SUMMARY
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MANILA, Philippines – Paul Harris was the saving grace for the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters on their way to withstanding the barrage of the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers, 92-88, on Friday, June 13, at the Mall of Asia Arena to clinch one of the 4 twice-to-beat advantages in the playoffs of the 2014 PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors’ Cup.
Harris sizzled from downtown and drained 9 three-pointers, including 3 pivotal ones late in the game, to dispatch the Mixers and send them down to 5-3 in the standings, while the Texters climbed to 6-2.
“A lot of the credit has to go to Paul Harris who really just shot the 3-point shot very, very well today,” TNT head coach Norman Black said of his import who came up with 39 points and 14 rebounds.
The Texters wrested control of the game from the beginning, ending the half up 53-45, before the Mixers put the clamps on them in the third and took a 70-68 edge heading into the final frame.
As both teams exchanged runs in the payoff period, Harris delivered the blows that changed the tide in favor of Talk ‘N Text for good.
With under 4 minutes to play and the Texters down by 77-81 after a James Yap one-hander off the glass, Harris knocked down a trey and pulled his team to within 80-81.
On the other end, Yap muffed a couple of freebies as Harris lined up another go-ahead triple right after, 83-81.
As San Mig fought to stay alive with baskets from a hard-fighting Marqus Blakely (21 points, 22 rebounds) and Mark Barroca (10 points, 4 assists), Harris delivered the dagger with 2:10 left on the clock – another 3-pointer which pushed the Texters to a two-possession advantage, 84-88.
Time was no longer on the side of the Mixers as Harris put the icing on the cake using a wide open lay-up off a steal with 12.3 ticks left to make it a 92-85 affair.
Yap, who finished with 9 points, sank a trey to ink the final tally.
“This win is important because it qualifies us for one of the twice-to-beat advantages,” said Black.
The close contest saw each team excelling in various aspects of the game with the Texters dominating the offensive glass and converting well on second-chance opportunities, 18-6. The Mixers, on the other hand, conquered the fastbreak points, 24-4.
Jayson Castro and Ranidel de Ocampo finished with 19 and 12 points, respectively, with de Ocampo adding 14 rebounds.
For the Mixers, Joe Devance tied his career-high of 30 points in this game, per PBA Head Statistician Fidel Mangonon III.
The Texters survived the Mixers without the leadership of team captain and veteran guard Jimmy Alapag, who, Black said, was out due to illness.
“I’m very pleased with the way our team responded today considering our captain Jimmy Alapag was very sick that he couldn’t play.”
According to Black, Alapag already wasn’t feeling well in their game against Barako Bull but only insisted on playing. He quoted Alapag as saying he felt better today and will hopefully play their last game on Sunday against Barangay Ginebra.
Scores
TALK N’ TEXT 92 – Harris 39, Castro 19, De Ocampo 12, Fonacier 9, Baclao 7, Williams 2, Carey 2, Canaleta 2, Reyes J. 0, Reyes R. 0.
SAN MIG SUPER COFFEE 88 – Devance 30, Blakely 21, Barroca 10, Yap 9, Sangalang 7, Simon 6, Maliksi 3, Pingris 2, Mallari 0, Reavis 0.
Quarter scores: 31-21, 53-45, 68-70, 92-88.
– Rappler.com
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