TALK ‘N TEXT GRABS SOLO LEAD
TALK ‘N Text beat GlobalPort 96-88 Sunday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, but head coach Jong Uichico is far from satisfied.
“Kulang pa,” said Uichico after the win that not only put the Tropang Texters back on track but also gave them other benefits as well.
“We’re still trying to have them learn what we’re trying to accomplish in terms of defense. Kulang pa ng aggression sa defense, di pa consistent,” added Uichico.
Notwithstanding, Uichico’s team did enough to dispel GlobalPort’s persistent threat, shrug off a 103-106 loss to Kia last Wednesday and notch a sixth win in eight games that put it half-a-game ahead of idle Meralco and Rain or Shine atop the leaderboard.
“Today we did a good job defensively, getting those rebounds, and our defense, which translated into our offense,” noted Uichico. “Medyo nakahinga ng konti.”
Ivan Johnson, meanwhile, led the Tropang Texters’ offensive sock with a game-high 35 points, with Ranidel de Ocampo adding 25 and Matt Ganuelas-Rosser 13, keying the win they hope to use as springboard when they wind up their eliminations assignments against defending champion Purefoods Star, and Philippine Cup finalists San Miguel Beer and Alaska.
“The target is always the top two,” admitted Uichico. “We still want to keep on winning. We’ll take two days off then it’s back to practice.”
The loss cut short GlobalPort’s winning streak at two and relegated it to an even 4-4 record.
Terrence Romeo scored 20 points and Calvin Warner added 19 along with a game-high 27 rebounds. But the Batang Pier simply faded in the face of the Tropang Texters’ unrelenting pressure when winning time came.
Warner’s freebie brought GlobalPort within 70-76, but triples by De Ocampo and Jayson Castro kept TNT’s head above water before Johnson came in with just over five minutes left and drained back-to-back treys to stretch the difference to 96-83, only 2:13 remaining.
After being outrebounded by Kia by four the Tropang Texters again lost in the battle off the boards 53-56, but at least evened that out after making 12 of 30 three-point tries to the Batang Pier’s 7-for-25 clip from deep.
Talk ‘N Text also pulled off eight steals and committed just four turnovers to the Batang Pier’s 17.
Still, GlobalPort managed to wage a gallant stand and even briefly grabbed the upper hand at 53-52 on a triple by Stanley Pringle.
Johnson then scored five points, Rosser completed a three-point play and De Ocampo boomed in a triple during a 15-2 surge that gave TNT a 67-55 bulge. (NC)
The scores:
TALK N’ TEXT 96 – Johnson 35, De Ocampo 25, Rosser 13, Fonacier 8, Castro 5, Washington 4, Carey 4, Alas 2, Reyes R.J. 0, Seigle 0, Aban 0.
GLOBALPORT 88 – Romeo 20, Warner 19, Pringle 16, Jensen 10, Semerad 8, Miranda 4, Buenafe 4, Isip 4, Ponferrada 3, Caperal 0, Pinto 0, Nabong 0, Taha 0.
Quarterscores: 24-24, 49-46, 74-69, 96-88
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