HOUDINI ACT IN O.T. FOR TALK ‘N TEXT
Talk ‘N Text kept itself in step with the leaders as they survived Barako Bull in overtime, 87-80, Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena in the PLDT myDSL-PBA Philippine Cup.
The Tropang Texters led by as much as 23 in the second but squandered their lead as Barako Bull fired a 23-7 blast spanning the end of the third to the 3:43 mark of the fourth, a run which was spurred by JC Intal, to pull themselves back in the game, 63-64.
From that point on, it was a see-saw battle.
Ranidel de Ocampo put Talk ‘N Text ahead by five, 71-66, courtesy of two free throws. But Willie Miller scored the last five points in regulation, including the game-tying corner three with 29 seconds to play. Jai Reyes missed a potential game-clinching three, but the Energy turned the ball over when de Ocampo caught Denok Miranda’s pass, which was deflected by Harvey Carey. In the final play in regulation, JC Intal blocked Jayson Castro as the time expired to send the game into OT.
In the extra five minutes, Mick Pennisi pulled the Energy to within one, 77-78, with a corner three, but de Ocampo answered right back as he had a putback off of a Castro three-point miss. Pennisi once again hit a trey from the right wing to tie the game at 80, but de Ocampo delivered the game-winning three-pointer with 1:05 to play in the extra period to push Talk ‘N Text ahead, 83-80.
Barako Bull, which lost for the sixth straight time after a 2-0 conference start, had one last chance to keep their hopes alive as Miller was fouled while shooting a three, but he failed to hit any of his three freebies.
Baclao and Castro iced the game for the Tropang Texters, which rolled to their fifth win in seven outings.
“We just won which is probably the most important part of the game,” said Talk ‘N Text coach Norman Black. “In the second half, we struggled with our shooting and fortunately, Jayson came through for us.”
Castro had 23 points, six rebounds, and nine assists in the game, while de Ocampo chipped a double-double of 17 markers and 10 boards. Larry Fonacier and Kelly Williams combined for 23 for the Tropang Texters.
“It’s just a roller coaster of the game, and in the end, we held on to win the basketball game,” Black said.
Intal scored nine of his 14 points in that fourth quarter fight back to go with 11 rebounds, while Miller had 16 points and 10 boards for Barako Bull. Pennisi (11), Keith Jensen (10), and Miranda (10) all tallied double-digit outputs for the Energy.
Barako Bull bucked a woeful first half, scoring only 19 points, the ninth all-time lowest output in a half in PBA history, to climb back to the game and force overtime. (RL)
The scores:
TALK N TEXT 87 – Castro 23, De Ocampo 17, Fonacier 13, Williams 10, Seigle 9, Carey 6, Baclao 4, Aban 2, Celiz 0, Reyes 0, Poligrates 0.
BARAKO BULL 80 – Miller 16, Intal 14, Pennisi 11, Jensen 10, Miranda 10, Pena 7, Buenafe 5, Maierhofer 3, Lastimosa 2, Isip 2, Wilson 0, Marcelo 0, Labagala 0.
Quarterscores: 18-7, 39-19, 57-44, 71-71, 87-80.
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