Talk ’N Text flips switch late to keep Blackwater winless

MANILA, Philippines – Trailing for the better part of the contest, the Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters uncorked a 13-0 blast midway in the payoff period to surge past a still winless Blackwater Elite, 88-78, in the 2015 PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday, February 1 at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.

Import Richard Howell, who struggled in the Texters’ first game with just 13 points and 12 rebounds, finally found his rhythm again and led his team with 29 points on top of 21 rebounds and 5 assists.

Guard Jayson Castro registered 22 points while Jay Washington kept Talk ’N Text afloat in the first half with 8 points.

Despite keeping it close for the entire first half and leading by as much as 64-55 late in the third, the Elite’s inexperience proved detrimental as they could not finish off a more battle-tested Texters.

Led by Howell, Talk ’N Text broke a 71-all deadlock with 7:06 remaining and went on a 13-0 run, built on fastbreak points off of Blackwater turnovers, to lead by 84-71 with 4:17 left to play. 

Bambam Gamalinda ended Blackwater’s scoring drought with a triple which was followed by back to back Bryan Faundo baskets to cap off a 7-0 counterattack that cut the deficit to just 84-78 with under 3 minutes left.

But Blackwater’s inexperience came to fore as guard Brian Heruela missed a couple of baskets on the drive, and Val Acuña hesitated in one possession that could have cut the lead down to just 4.

Howell, who dropped 19 points in the fourth, scored the dagger putback, 86-78, with just over a minute remaining to seal the win.

Faundo topscored for the Elite with 19 points while fomer national team big man Marcus Douthit added 14 points. Douthit is a temporary import for Blackwater in lieu of 7-footer Chris Charles, who is currently nursing a hamstring injury.

Acuña and Heruela each registered 12 and 10 points, respectively. 

Blackwater brought back the classic blue and yellow jerseys it last wore when they won the 2013 PBA D-League Foundation Cup, hoping the franchise could win its first PBA game wearing it. But the jerseys brought them no such luck.

Blackwater suffered its 13th straight loss in the league since the Philippine Cup, while Talk ’N Text won back to back to start the Commissioner’s Cup at 2-0.

Scores:

TALK N’ TEXT (88): Howell 29, Castro 22, Washington 8, Alas 8, Miller 8, De Ocampo 7, Carey 2, Williams 2, Aban 2, Labagala 0, Fonacier 0, Espiritu 0, Reyes 0.

BLACKWATER (78): Faundo 19, Douthit 14, Acuna 12, Heruela 10, Celiz 7, Timberlake 5, Gamalinda 5, Reyes 4, Erram 2, Austria 0, Laure 0, Ballesteros 0, Bulawan 0, Ciriacruz 0.

Quarter scores: 19-17, 41-39, 60-66, 88-78.

– Rappler.com