GINEBRA – TNT DO-OR-DIE GAME RESET TUESDAY
Barangay Ginebra has been in each of the last 18 PBA playoffs while Talk n Text has been a fixture in post-elimination round plays in the last 10 conferences.
One streak comes to an end as the Gin Kings and the Tropang Texters face off in a do-or-die battle for the last slot in the PBA Governors Cup quarterfinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Tuesday night.
The knockout game was originally slated Monday at the Cuneta Astrodome but was moved to Tuesday at the Big Dome due to extremely bad weather.
“Due to heavy rains and flooding, the playoff game for the eighth quarterfinal spot between Barangay Ginebra and Talk n Text has been reset,” the Commissioner’s Office announced.
The start of the quarterfinals, meanwhile, was pushed to Wednesday with Meralco and Barako Bull clashing at 5:15 p.m. then San Mig Coffee and Alaska Milk colliding at 7:30 p.m. also at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
On Thursday over at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, it’s Rain or Shine versus Globalport at 5:15 p.m. then Petron Blaze opposite Ginebra or Talk n Text at 7:30 p.m.
“The complete and revised schedule of playoffs and venues will follow shortly,” the Commissioner’s Office also said.
The top four seeds – Petron, San Mig Coffee, Meralco and Rain or Shine – have two cracks at making the Final Four.
The KO game between Talk n Text and Ginebra became necessary after the former caught up with the latter at 3-6 at the close of the elims Sunday via a 113-99 win.
“The guys willed themselves to victory,” said Talk n Text coach Norman Black.
Jimmy Alapag found his touch when needed the most, firing three huge triples as the Texters finally got over the hump, nailing a first win in six games.
Courtney Fells also played big with 26 points, five rebounds and two assists as he finally tasted a win since taking over from Tony Mitchell as TnT import.
The Kings were waging their last comeback try when Alapag strung up three straight treys, restoring a double-digit lead for TnT at 107-95.
Larry Fonacier also fired away a trey then Harvey Carey came through with a three-point play as the Texters eventually put the game away and forced the one-game playoff (SB)
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