Top-seeded Talk ’N Text escapes scrappy Air21 Express to advance to PBA semifinal round
Games today:
Araneta Coliseum
5:15 p.m.- Meralco vs. Alaska
7:30 p.m.- Rain or Shine vs. Barangay Ginebra
The top ranked Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters fended off a stiff challenge by the lowest seed Air21 Express to escape with a hard-earned 105-100 victory and advance to the semifinal round of the 38th PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Ranidel de Ocampo nailed a booming triple in the final 25.2 seconds that zapped the life out of the Express as the Texters took a giant step in their title-retention bid.
Talk ’N Text, which enjoyed a twice-to-beat edge against Air21, will next play the winner in the best-of-three quarerfinal series between the Alaska Aces and the Meralco Bolts.
Alaska leads the series, 1-0, after beating Meralco, 90-84, last Wednesday night.
Mike Cortez typified the Express’ gallant stand against they mighty Texters as the veteran point guard flirted with triple-double after finishing with 21 points, 18 assists and nine rebounds. The upset-conscious Express caught everyone by surprise when they erected an 11-point lead in the second quarter.
Talk ’N Text, however, didn’t panic with Larry Fonacier igniting the team’s comeback. He scored eight points in the third and capped his offensive outburst with a buzzer-beating three-pointer from beyond the halfcourt, giving Talk ’N Text a 51-47 edge.
Talk ’N Text finally played true to form in the third and built 11-point leads thrice, the last was at the 7:45 mark, 68-57. But the Express staged their own rally, turning to KG Canaleta, who scored nine points in a 12-2 run as Air21 cut Talk ’N Text’s lead to just one, 69-70.
Cortez joined Air21’s scoring foray, dropping a long two-pointer and dropping two free throws to put the Express on top anew, 71-70. Talk ’N Text regained the lead after the third, 85-79.
It was a tight contest in the fourth with Air21 taking several chances of moving ahead.
The game was tied at 98-all when de Ocampo delivered the back-breaking triple.
Bonbon Custodio made it a one-point game but Jayson Castro made two gift shots to give Talk ’N Text a 103-100 lead with 13.5 ticks left. Custodio then turned the ball over in the next and Jimmy Alapag pegged the final count by sinking two free throws.
