Texters squander 23-point lead but still defeat Barako Bull in OT

Games today
Mall of Asia Arena
3:00 p.m.- Rain or Shine vs. Petron
5:15 p.m.- Barangay Ginebra vs. Alaska

Losses continued to pile up for the Barako Bull Energy Colas as they saw their gallant stand fall short, bowing to the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters in overtime, 80-87, last night in the 39th PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.

It marked the second straight game that the Tropang Texters squandered a huge lead before finding a way to escape at the finish.

Talk ‘N Text saw its 23-point lead wiped out by Barako Bull but the Texters leaned on the overtime brilliance of Jayson Castro to tally their fifth win in seven games and keep their hold of the third spot in the standings behind the Petron Blaze Boosters and Barangay Ginebra Kings, who are 7-0 (win-loss) and 6-1, respectively.

Talk ‘N Text came from a 90-87 win over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters where they also wasted a 20-point first half lead.

Against a struggling Barako Bull squad, the Tropang Texters erected a 37-14 lead in the first half. It was an awful first half showing for the Energy Colas as they only managed 19 points to Talk ‘N Text’s 39 after two quarters of play.

Barako Bull, however, had a mammoth run in the final half with Willie Miller taking over in the closing minutes capped by a booming triple that tied the count at 71 in the final 29 seconds of regulation.

Talk ‘N Text couldn’t score in the next possession and the Energy Colas had the chance to win it but they committed a crucial turnover in their own play.

Castro scored four of Talk ‘N Text first seven points in overtime to give his team a 78-74 lead.

Mick Pennisi hit a three-pointer, Ranide de Ocampo completed a follow-up shot before the former sank another trifecta that knotted the count at 80-all with 1:30 left.

De Ocampo canned his own three-pointer and Barako Bull failed to stay in the game when Miller missed three free throws that could have tied the contest with 45.5 seconds to go.

Miller led finished 16 points, while JC Intal had 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Energy Colas, who endured their sixth straight defeat to drop to 2-6.