TALK ‘N TEXT GETS BACK ON TRACK, BEATS BARAKO BULL IN LEGAZPI
LEGAZPI, Albay – Talk n Text got back on track, riding high on the exploits of Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Jayson Castro in pulling off a come-from-behind 101-98 win over Barako Bull in a PBA Commissioner’s Cup road game at the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation here Saturday night.
Al-Hussaini played his best game in a Talk n Text jersey, topscoring with 19 points while Castro struck at the right time as the Tropang Texters snapped a two-game losing skein and caught up with the Meralco Bolts and the San Mig Coffee Mixers at fourth place at 3-3.
Larry Fonacier, Jimmy Alapag and Ranidel de Ocampo also provided added push as the Texters overcame Donnell Harvey’s struggling performance in his return to the TnT fold.
Al-Hussaini converted all of his first nine field goal shots, then Castro took over as Talk n Text handed Barako Bull a third straight defeat and sent the Energy Cola moving down from joint fourth to seventh at 3-4.
Castro, sitting out precious minutes early on after committing a flagrant foul on Mick Pennisi, scored all of their last seven markers, including a three-pointer that shattered a 96-all deadlock with 1:26 left to play in the Phoenix Fuel-sponsored road game.
The 5-foot-11 guard himself stretched their lead to 101-96 on a drive before the Energy Cola made a desperate attempt to salvage the game but ran out of time in their bid.
Down by three with 1.0 second left, the Energy Cola went to Mark Macapagal who nailed a three-pointer after the time had run out. He failed to beat the buzzer as he took a fake before unleashing a shot from the right flank.
Harvey, the Talk n Text reinforcement who helped the team to a runner-up finish in this tourney last year, huffed, puffed and battled cramps at the finish, winding up with only eight points.
Barako Bull counterpart Evan Brock put in bigger numbers but turned heel in the end on his woeful 4-of-13 free throws. He muffed five charities in the last two minutes.
Badly missed by the Energy Cola at the finish was Pennisi, who fouled out with over eight minutes left to play.
Pennisi sizzled with five three-pointers in a hot start, leading the Energy Cola to a 61-51 lead in the first half.
The 6-foot-9 forward totaled 17 points in the first 24 minutes of play, including two charities on a flagrant foul by Castro with 4:07 left in the second quarter.
Castro hit Pennisi at the back of his head, triggering a little commotion. The TnT guard was slapped a flagrant foul penalty one while the Barako Bull player was assessed a technical infraction for second motion. (SB)
The scores:
TALK N’ TEXT 101 – Al-Hussaini 19, Fonacier 18, Castro 18, Alapag 12, De Ocampo 11, Harvey 8, Williams 8, Reyes 3, Carey 2, Aban 2, Dillinger 0, Raymundo 0.
BARAKO 98 – Pennisi 19, Seigle 18, Urbiztondo 14, Brock 14, Anthony 12, Macapagal 9, Villanueva 7, Kramer 2, Intal 2, Maliksi 1, Duncil 0, Weinstein 0.
Quarters: 30-32, 61-51, 81-78, 101-98
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