TNT SUBDUES GINEBRA, ADVANCES TO BEST-OF-3 QUARTERS
Jerome Jordan is no Michael Jordan but he looks well like a good fit for the Talk n Text Tropang Texters.
The seven-foot former New York Knick made a good account of himself in his initial game in the local pro league, leading the Tropang Texters to a key win over the Batangay Ginebra Kings that guaranteed Talk n Text a spot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-three quarterfinals.
Jordan manned the paint very well, collecting 23 points, 17 boards and two blocks as the Texters subdued the Kings, 100-86, Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena to tie the Petron Blaze Boosters at fourth place at 7-6.
Good quotient assures the Philippine Cup three-peat champs a place in the Top Six regardless of the outcome of the elims final play date at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday.
It’s Talk n Text versus Petron Blaze and Meralco opposite Rain or Shine.
Back-to-back losses after a six-game streak gave Ginebra a 7-7 closing card in the elims. The Kings finish seventh if the Bolts upset the Elasto Painters.
In that eventuality, Ginebra plays Rain or Shine in the quarterfinals with the Kings needing to overcome the E-Painters’ twice-to-beat advantage.
Jordan said he came over to win, vowing to do his best to help the Tropang Texters finish on top of everybody.
“We’ll try to make a strong push (to close the elims) and try to win the whole thing (the championship),” he said.
The Texters were off to a swashbuckling start with their Jamaican reinforcement, dominating the Texters almost wire-to-wire.
Jordan himself pulled a thorough domination of Vernon Macklin, who was thrown off balanced and limited to measly 12 points and nine rebounds. Before the game, the Ginebra import was norming hulking numbers of 25.4 points and 16 boards.
“He’s a familiar face. I’ve played him couples of times in the (NBA) D-League,” said Jordan.
“Jordan did a good job defensively. And offensively, we had more energy,” said Talk n Text coach Norman Black.
The Texters jumped the gun on the Kings, taking the first quarter at 32-17 and leading by as many as 17 in the second quarter at 40-23.
The Kings actually came to life in the third period, rallying to within one at 61-62 largely behind the exploits of Kerby Raymundo.
But the Kings had no more energy and firepower as the Tropang Texters stepped on the gas once again in the fourth period, reestablishing a huge lead at 89-73.
A big blow for the Kings was Raymundo fouling out with over eight minutes left to play. Raymundo carried much of the fight for Ginebra in this game, pouring in a personal conference-high of 22 points. (SB)
The scores:
TALK N’ TEXT 100 – Jordan 23, De Ocampo 20, Castro 14, Reyes 11, Alapag 11, Al-Hussaini 7, Dillinger 5, Carey 4, Peek 4, Fonacier 1, Raymundo 0, Aban 0.
GINEBRA 86 – Raymundo 22, Tenorio 15, Baracael 13, Macklin 12, Helterbrand 12, Ellis 5, Hatfield 4, Maierhofer 3, Taha 0, Jensen 0, Labagala 0, Espiritu 0.
Quarters: 32-27, 47-37, 70-63, 100-96
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