Sputtering Ginebra bows out of PH Cup as Talk ‘N Text enters semis

Jane Bracher

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Sputtering Ginebra bows out of PH Cup as Talk ‘N Text enters semis
Jayson Castro scores 23 points as Talk 'N Text advances to the PH cup semis at the expense of Barangay Ginebra

MANILA, Philippines — The Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters were methodical in the second half as they dismantled an inconsistent Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 83-67, in the quarterfinals knockout phase to complete the semifinals cast of the 2015 PBA Philippine Cup on Tuesday, December 16 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Jayson Castro exploded for 23 points and 5 assists to lead a Talk ‘N Text squad that will face San Miguel in a best-of-7 semifinals series.

Ranidel de Ocampo tallied 17 markers while rookie Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, who has grown into one of the dependable and consistent guys for coach Jong Uichico, wound up with 13 points and 4 boards.

Castro and Ganuelas-Rosser made the key baskets in the fourth and spearheaded the Texters’ stingy defense all game long.

“It was really tough to play Ginebra and we took some gambles and I thought we defended pretty well,” Uichico said. “I thought we weren’t playing good offense in the first half but we got better in the second half.”

After a 38% shooting clip and going 1-of-14 from downtown in the first half, the Texters ignited offensively in the last two quarters and surpassed their first half output to balance out their defense, which held the Gin Kings to a miserable 29% total field goal shooting.

Talk ‘N Text’s hard-nosed defense stymied Ginebra’s go-to options of pick and rolls as well as fastbreaks, leaving the latter with just two guys scoring in double figures.

LA Tenorio, who tried to spark a rally in the payoff period, emerged with 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Streaky shooter Joseph Yeo settled for 10 points, 6 boards, and 4 dimes.

Turnovers (15 in total) came in bad timing for Ginebra, who chopped a double digit third quarter deficit to just 69-64 early in the fourth. But Talk ‘N Text responded and established a double-digit cushion, 78-67, with 2:57 left on a Ganuelas-Rosser three-point play.

Harvey Carey, who had 7 points and 5 rebounds, sealed the deal with a dagger and-one, 81-67, with less than a minute on the clock.

After a promising start to the conference, Ginebra, which handed Talk ‘N Text an opening day 101-81 beating, sputtered to a halt and crashed out of the Philippine Cup.

Coincidentally, Japeth Aguilar put on polarizing performances for both games, leading Ginebra with 18 points in that first win, and then registering just 9 points in this game on top of 11 rebounds.

The Gin Kings last experienced a championship in 2008. 

The 8-time champion Uichico, who was a former coach of Ginebra, hopes to notch his 9th by disposing another former team the Beermen.

“It’s hard especially playing San Miguel. I think very similar yung Ginebra and San Miguel having a big man. We’ll have our hands full, really. But we’ll just have to find a way.”

Scores

TALK N’ TEXT (83): Castro 23, De Ocampo 17, Rosser 13, Alas 8, Carey 7, Reyes R.J. 6, Aban 4, Fonacier 3, Washington 2, Alapag 0, Reyes R. 0, Williams 0, Espiritu 0, Seigle 0.

GINEBRA (67): Tenorio 15, Yeo 10, Aguilar 9, Slaughter 8, Caguioa 8, Mamaril 6, Monfort 3, Reyes 3, Baracael 3, Ellis 2, Forrester 0, Urbiztondo 0, Helterbrand 0, Brondial 0.

Quarter scores: 25-22, 40-40, 65-58, 83-67.

Rappler.com

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