TALK ‘N TEXT BREEZES PAST BARAKO BULL, ENTERS SEMIS FIRST

Warning: Undefined variable $nocontent in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 236

Warning: Undefined variable $iscovid in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 239

Warning: Undefined variable $FEAT_STORIES in /var/www/pba/single2017/addfunction-ondemand-gitlab-taboola.php on line 685

Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, bool given in /var/www/pba/single2017/addfunction-ondemand-gitlab-taboola.php on line 688

Warning: Undefined array key 0 in /var/www/pba/single2017/addfunction-ondemand-gitlab-taboola.php on line 730

Ivan Johnson caught fire early and Talk ‘N Text never looked back.

Behind the impeccable shooting of the 6-foot-9 import, the Tropang Texters barged into the semifinals of the 2015 PBA Commissioner’s Cup with a 127-97 demolition of Barako Bull Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Owning a twice-to-beat advantage, the number two-seed Talk ‘N Text never lifted its foot off of the gas pedal as it ran roughshod over Barako Bull in their quarterfinals affair.

Johnson captained a 45-point first quarter — the highest scoring quarter in the league over the last nine conferences — as the Tropang Texters broke the game wide open early and which proved to be just the precursor of what’s to come for the Energy in the next 36 minutes of basketball. At one point late in the fourth, the Tropang Texters even enjoyed a 37-point edge, 123-86, before the Energy slowly trimmed the lead away to its final 30-point margin.

Johnson finished with 35 points on a 13-of-19 field goal shooting, 15 rebounds, and three blocks as Talk ‘N Text coasted to the W en route to a fourth straight Final 4 appearance and 13th in the last 15 conferences.

“(Johnson) takes what the defense gives him. He’s a veteran already, so he knows what shots he should or shouldn’t take,” said Talk ‘N Text head coach Jong Uichico.

Johnson definitely was the big difference in this game as the 30-point rout was very different from its eliminations meeting against Barako Bull, where then-Talk ‘N Text reinforcement Richard Howell could only lead the Tropang Texters to an 80-75 victory.

“Ang ganda ng shooting namin kaya medyo lumaki ang lamang,” said Uichico, as Talk ‘N Text shot 54-percent from the field and went 17-of-36 from rainbow country.

Jayson Castro added 18 points and seven assists, while Ranidel de Ocampo chipped in 16 markers.
Matt Ganuelas-Rosser and Larry Fonacier also combined for 22 in the easy victory, as Talk ‘N Text now awaits the winner of the Purefoods-Alaska best-of-3 quarterfinal series for its semifinals opponent.

“Pagdating ng semis, ibang usapan na yun. We’re playing the best of the best. It’s either Purefoods or Alaska, so we should always be prepared,” said Uichico. “Yung mga players, alam nila na they have to play a notch higher in those games. Alam na nila yun and it’s normal for them already.”

Solomon Alabi got 23 points and 17 rebounds in the losing effort, while JC Intal wound up with 22 markers on a 4-of-8 shooting from threes for the Energy who were eliminated in the playoffs by Talk ‘N Text for the third straight conference. (RL)

The scores:

TALK ‘N TEXT 127 – Johnson 35, Castro 18, De Ocampo 16, Ganuelas-Rosser 12, Fonacier 10, Alas 8, Seigle 8, Washington 5, Williams 4, Espiritu 3, Carey 2, Labagala 2, Reyes 2, Aban 2, Miller 0.

BARAKO BULL 97 – Alabi 23, Intal 22, Lanete 13, Pascual 12, Garcia 6, Lastimosa 6, Marcelo 6, Mercado 4, Hubalde 3, Salvador 2, Salva 0, Paredes 0.

Quarterscores: 45-23, 75-44, 101-73, 127-97.

Warning: Undefined array key "TESTPAGE" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 254

Warning: Undefined array key "fb" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 280

Warning: Undefined variable $thinq in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 318

Warning: Undefined variable $var_sports_vlurb in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 328

Warning: Undefined variable $mindanaoQuake2019 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 442

Warning: Undefined variable $showSolicit_batanes in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 459

Warning: Undefined variable $seagames in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 475

Warning: Undefined variable $tokyoOlympics2020 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 481

Warning: Undefined variable $help_taal in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 490

Warning: Undefined variable $help_ompong in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 525

Warning: Undefined variable $elections_2019 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 538

Warning: Undefined variable $typhoon_2018_redirect in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 543

Warning: Undefined variable $ncov2020 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 555

Warning: Undefined variable $tyhoon2020_marthon in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 578

Warning: Undefined variable $dotnet23 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 585

Warning: Undefined variable $suicide in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 595

Warning: Undefined variable $yearend2020 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 600

Warning: Undefined array key "inqplus_test" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 609

Warning: Undefined array key "newreadnext" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 664

View comments

TAGS:

Warning: Undefined variable $bc_tag in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 1239

For feedback, complaints, or inquiries, contact us.

Warning: Undefined array key "ss2_test" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 1418