TNT STILL IN RUNNING FOR TOP 2
BIÑAN, Laguna — Talk n Text hung on the battle for the Top Two in the PBA Philippine Cup elimination round after chalking up back-to-back wins at the Alonte Sports Arena here.
The Tropang Texters walloped the Barako Bull Energy, 122-106, on Nov. 23 then subdued the hard-fighting Blackwater Elite, 90-80, six days later in a Petron Blaze Saturday Special.
And through nine games, the former Philippine Cup three-peat champs are at 6-3, still with a chance at an outright semifinal entry if they sustain their romp in their last two games versus the Purefoods Star Hotshots and the San Miguel Beermen.
Of course, it’s easier said than done. But at the least, they can make the Top Six, gaining a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
For Blackwater, a win remained very elusive.
Jimmy Alapag and Danny Seigle keyed their breakaway in the second quarter while Jason Castro struck in each quarter as the Tropang Texters kept the Elite winless in 10 games.
The Elite take their last shot at making the win-column in this conference as they meet the San Miguel Beermen on Dec. 9.
The Texters banked on the exploits of Alapag and Seigle in a second-quarter breakaway that the team sustained all the way through in notching a fifth win in their last six games.
Alapag drained back-to-back treys then Seigle strung up four straight field baskets, including the last one from beyond the arc, as the Texters took the half at 46-32.
Then Castro took over, delivering the bulk of his 21 points and six rebounds in the second half. (SB)
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