TNT DOWNS PUREFOODS IN OT, GRABS TOP 6 SPOT
Talk n Text safely made the Top Six, tagging along idle Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in a decisive triumph over Purefoods Star in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.
The Tropang Texters simply refused to lose in a fierce and furious battle, pulling off a 100-96 win in overtime that guaranteed the team of a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
“It’s always tough to play Purefoods, and it’s really nice to win this game,” said Talk n Text coach Jong Uichico.
“They don’t change the way they play even when they’re down or dikdikan ang laro. Sanay sila. They keep their poise. They’re disciplined. That’s why it’s hard to play Purefoods, at buti nakalusot kami,” Uichico also said.
Larry Fonacier, Jason Castro, Harvey Carey, Ranidel de Ocampo and Jimmy Alapag came through in the clutch as Talk n Text nailed a second three-game streak in their last seven games and improved to 7-3.
With two straight losses, Purefoods dropped to 5-5, in danger of missing a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarters.
Gaining that “incentive” was Ginebra on Talk n Text’s win.
Castro and Carey fired four points apiece while De Ocampo and Alapag made two each as the Texters outfought the Hotshots in the extra period.
The Hotshots faded as Mark Barroca, James Yap and Joe Devance muffed a shot each with their team down by two, 96-98 in the last 24 seconds.
Alapag sealed their win with two charities with 3.3 ticks left.
The two teams fought big shots for big shots, and ended up tied in regulation play at 88.
Purefoods shattered Talk n Text’s defense with Marc Pingris scoring underneath the basket to finish a good inbound play as the Hotshots went up 88-86 with 3.2 ticks left.
The Texters, however, answered with a perfectly executed thrown-in of their own as they forged the 88-all deadlock with Fonacier at the scoring end with six-tenths of a second to go.
With no more timeout left, the Hotshots were no longer able to map out one final shot to win the game in regulation. (SB)
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