TALK N TEXT ANSWERS BACK
Don’t count out Talk n Text just yet.
Battling for survival, the Tropang Texters responded bigtime, whipping San Mig Super Coffee, 112-86, in Game 3 of their PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors’ Cup semifinal series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Monday.
Talk ‘N Text evaded the broom and sliced the Coffee Mixers’ series lead to 2-1. They will try to force a winner-take-all Game 5 when they clash once again on Wednesday.
Ranidel de Ocampo led the offensive onslaught for TNT, shooting 4-of-5 threes to finish with 24 points.
Jayson Castro added 14 markers while Danny Seigle chipped in 13.
Paul Harris nailed a double-double with his 12 points and 12 rebounds that went with his seven assists, as Jimmy Alapag and rarely-used forward Elmer Espitiru combined for 21 for the Tropa.
“I was sticking to a 10-man rotation and it wasn’t working, so I figured out I’ll give everybody a chance to play tonight and see what happens,” said Talk ‘N Text coach Norman Black.
“I’m very pleased with the players I called cause they responded well. They were able to get us a victory today,” he added. “It was a decision just to let everybody play and see who’s going to play well and keep them on the floor.”
“Fortunately for me tonight, everybody played well. It’s probably the reason for the result,” said Black, as all but one of the 15 men he fielded in were able to register a field goal.
Talk ‘N Text ignited the rout with a 32-point second quarter to swing a 21-20 San Mig first quarter lead to a 52-37 halftime edge in their favor.
Shooting an efficient 55 percent from the field in that second period, the Tropang Texters continued the rampage in the second half, where they broke the flood gates open and led by as big as 28, 92-64, after a Niño Cañaleta corner trey early in the fourth.
Peter June Simon and the rest of San Mig’s subs still tried to resuscitate the Coffee Mixers in the fourth to trim the lead to 20, but TNT’s gunners always had an answer to these comeback bids.
“The one thing we had going for us is that we played as a team offensively,” Black said, as he noted the 30-18 edge Talk ‘N Text had in the assists department and their 14-of-32 shooting clip from three-point land.
“The ball was really moving from hand-to-hand. Nobody was really holding it. Guys are really looking to give the extra pass and get a better shot.”
He added, “It’s one of the things we’ve been preaching the entire year, particularly in this series, but we have not been able to get it done. But tonight, we really played as a team which is very important for us. We really have to have ball movement to have the chance of winning against San Mig Coffee.”
Simon led the charge for the Coffee Mixers with his 18 points, as Joe Devance canned 11 markers and seven rebounds.
Import Marqus Blakely was limited to just eight points and seven rebounds in 27 minutes of action for coach Tim Cone.
“It gives us a chance to fight another day. They’re still up, 2-1. They have the advantage,” Black said. “What I’m hoping now is that we win one more game and put a little bit of pressure on them, and hopefully get this team to a Game 5.” (RL)
The Scores:
TALK ‘N TEXT 112 – De Ocampo 24, Castro 14, Seigle 13, Harris 12, Alapag 11, Espiritu 10, Williams 6, Rob Reyes 4, Fonacier 4, Aban 2, Jai. Reyes 2, Ryan Reyes 2, Carey 2, Baclao 0.
SAN MIG COFFEE 86 – Simon 18, Devance 11, Blakely 8, Taha 8, Pingris 7, Mallari 7, Barroca 6, Sangalang 6, Yap 4, Maliksi 3, Gaco 3, Matias 2, Melton 2, Reavis 1, Holstein 0.
Quarters: 20-21, 53-37, 85-64, 112-86.
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