Talk ‘N Text stays unbeaten, builds 2-0 series lead over Rain or Shine

MANILA, Philippines – The magic number, for now, is 12. 

The Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters have extended their win streak to 12 and in the process erected a daunting 2-0 series lead in their best-of-5 semifinals against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the 2014 PLDT Home TVolution PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday,  April 30 at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Texters came through in the final frame to emerge victorious, 94-87. 

There were many heroes for Talk ‘N Text but veteran point guard Jimmy Alapag was crucial to their win. 

Alapag scattered 14 points, including another one of his impressive fastbreak pull-up triples, 73-69, early in the fourth, to fuel the Texters’ endgame momentum. 

“In the end I think it was Jimmy Alapag who made the big plays for us again down the stretch,” said TNT head coach Norman Black. 

Both teams had to adjust to playing without their imports. 

Talk ‘N Text import Richard Howell was saddled with foul trouble, eventually committing his 6th foul with 4:09 left in the contest. He wound up with 12 points and 11 rebounds in 25 minutes on the court. 

On the other hand, Rain or Shine import Wayne Chism played for only 14 minutes as he was taken out of the game midway in the second after spraining his MCL in his left knee in a rebound play. He still managed to shoot his free throws, though struggling, and finished with 10 points and 7 rebounds. 

The Painters also missed Jervy Cruz for this game as he suffered from a strained medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee. 

Ranidel de Ocampo scored a game-high 20 points, including a perfect 8-of-8 from the stripe, to go with 7 boards and a steal. While Jayson Castro was close behind his teammate with 19 points. 

Castro managed to eke out that many points despite going 1-of-10 from the field by pounding through to the lane all game long and scoring most of his points from the free throw line, going 14-of-18. He also had one triple that was made during the Texters’ momentum grabbing 29-point fourth quarter output. 

A Beau Belga (16 points, 12 rebounds) triple with 3:34 left shoved Rain or Shine to within 87-84, in prime position to launch a last ditch fight back.

But De Ocampo quickly closed that door on Rain or Shine with a bucket shortly after to make it 89-84. 

Gabe Norwood had a chance to cut the deficit to 3 once again in the final 30 seconds as he jumped high above the ring to catch a lob pass from Paul Lee on the inbound, but his lay-in bounced off the rim to his dismay, effectively shutting the door on the Painters as the Texters scored two freebies with 9.3 seconds left to notch the final score. 

“We gutted it out, we won the game, that’s what’s important. We will try to finish this on Friday,” Black said. 

The Painters are on the brink of bowing out of the conference even as 6 of their players were in double digits.

Ryan Araña scored 14 markers while rookie Raymond Almazan stepped up in the absence of Chism with 12 points and 16 rebounds, even as he himself fouled out towards the end. 

TY Tang came up with 10 points in the last 24 minutes on two-of-4 triples.  

Black also addressed any pressure the team may be feeling due to their still undefeated conference and moving one win away from another finals appearance. 

“We haven’t really talked about the streak. It hasn’t come up, I haven’t mentioned it. The players haven’t mentioned it, we’ve never discussed it. We’re just taking it one game at a time. I don’t think we’re concerned about that right now.”

Talk ‘N Text’s last Finals appearance was during the 2013 All-Filipino Cup where they completed their hat-trick of that conference. On Friday, May 2, they look to finish off the Painters and make a return trip to the finals. 

“There’s always pressure, whether it’s a winning streak or a losing streak,” Black noted. “Coaching in the PBA is a pressure job. It’s just part of it.”

Scores 

TALK N’ TEXT (94:) De Ocampo 20, Castro 19, Williams 14, Alapag 14, Howell 12, Fonacier 7, Carey 4, Seigle 2, Canaleta 2, Aban 0, Reyes Jai 0, Reyes Ryan 0, Baclao 0.

RAIN OR SHINE (87):Belga 16, Arana 14, Almazan 12, Chism 10, Tang 10, Lee 10, Norwood 5, Rodriguez 4, Chan 2, Nuyles 2, Ibanes 2. 

Quarter scores: 21-17, 43-38, 65-64, 94-87. 

– Rappler.com