Texters lead 2-1
Game today
Mall of Asia Arena
6:45 p.m.- Rain or Shine vs. San Mig Coffee
The defending champions Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters pounced on the Alaska Aces’ endgame collapse to hack out a, 93-79 win and regained the lead in their best-of-seven semifinal round of the 38th PBA Philippine Cup last night at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Talk ‘N Text moved up in the series, 2-1, bouncing back from their, 88-100 Game 2 loss.
Kelly Williams posted 23 points and nine rebounds and made 10 of his 14 attempts from the floor.
Article continues after this advertisementLarry Fonacier provided the Texters the needed perimeter scoring by chipping in 12 points while Ranidel de Ocampo added 12 points as the Texters survived the so-so performance of Jayson Castro and Jimmy Alapag, who scored just six and four markers, respectively.
Article continues after this advertisementThe Aces tried to rally from a 12-point halftime deficit but suddenly lost steam after they started chipping away at the deficit.
Alaska was only down by three, 52-55, when they allowed Talk ‘N Text to score 14 points while managing just one point. The Alaska drought enabled the Texters to build a, 69-53 lead and the game was never close after that.
Talk ‘N Text piled up the points on second opportunities and out-rebounded the Aces, 18-9 in the third.
The Aces couldn’t put up any resistance in the fourth with their key players getting ejected one after another.
Calvin Abueva was ejected in the final 6:45 for incurring his technical foul. A few minutes later, Cyrus Baguio was also tossed out for committing a flagrant foul-penalty two which merits an automatic ejection.
Gabby Espinas also fouled out in the closing minutes that further decimated Alaska’s lineup.
PAINTERS GUN FOR 3-1 TODAY
Meanwhile, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters shoot for a commanding 3-1 lead when they take on the San Mig Coffee Mixers in Game 4 of their own race-to-four series at the same venue.
Rain or Shine dumped San Mig in their Christmas Day showdown, 98-72, to grab a 2-1 series lead.
Rain or Shine won Game 1, 91-83, before San Mig evened things up with a 106-82 Game 2 win.
BOX SCORES
TALK N’ TEXT (93)- Williams 23, Fonacier 21, De Ocampo 12, Carey 7, Dillinger 6, Castro 6, Reyes 5, Alapag 4, Peek 4, Raymundo 3, Aban 2, Gamalinda 0, Alvarez 0.
ALASKA (79)- Thoss 17, Baguio 13, Jazul 11, Baracael 11, Casio 7, Espinas 6, Abueva 4, Reyes 4, Dela Cruz 2, Hontiveros 2, Belasco 2, Eman 0.QUARTERSCORES: 14-19, 39-34, 69-57, 93-79.
