THE Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters extended their wining run to five and tightened their hold of the solo lead after a, 96-83 trashing of the listless Shopinas.com Clickers last night in the 37th PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Texters had less trouble handling the Clickers, who further dropped to the bottom of the standings with a woeful 0-10 (win-loss) slate.
The game was only close in the first canto that saw the Texters close the period with a slim, 19-17 lead.
Talk ‘N Text started to pull away in the second quarter and closed the half with a big, 51-32 lead.
It was a smooth sailing for Talk ‘N Text from that point on.
Castro led four other Texters in double figures by scoring 17 points. Japhet Aguilar finished with 16 markers, while Ranidel de Ocampo and Harvey Carey contributed 10 each.
Talk ‘N Text sustained their hot streak despite the continued absence of big man Ali Peek. The bulky forward is still recuperating from a gunshot wound.
Jojo Duncil paced the Clickers with 16 points while Elmer Espiritu and Pong Escobal added 13 apiece.
With the loss, bench tactician Franz Pumaren remained winless as a PBA head coach.
BOX SCORES
TALK N’ TEXT (96)- Castro 17, Aguilar 16, De Ocampo 10, Carey 10, Dillinger 8, Williams 8, Gamalinda 6, Oreta 5, Raymundo 4, Weinstein 4, Fonacier 4, Membrere 2, Lao 2.
SHOPINAS.COM (83)- Duncil 16, Espiritu 13, Escobal 13, Jazul 7, Sena 6, Menor 6, Hubalde 5, Sison 4, Aquino 4, Ritualo 4, Daa 3, Mirza 2, Canlas 0. QUARTERSCORES: 19-17, 51-32, 76-52, 96-83. /EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA