After a well-fought battle at the Mall of Asia Arena Sunday night, Talk n Text and Barangay Ginebra are facing each other again in 24 hours over at the nearby Cuneta Astrodome.
The Tropang Texters and the Gin Kings play in a do-or-die match at 7:30 p.m. determining who catch the last bus to the PBA Governors Cup quarterfinals.
The losers bid farewell to the PBA Season 38, joining the Air21 Express in an early vacation.
The reigning Philippine Cup champs fought with great resolve, fending off the Commissioner’s Cup runners-up to force a three-way logjam at eighth place among TnT, Ginebra and Air21 at 3-6.
But the Texters and the Kings are the ones facing each other in a knockout duel on the strength of superior quotients.
In an effort benefitting idle Rain or Shine, Air21 drubbed Alaska Milk, 121-107, and thus scuttled the Aces’ bid for the Top Four.
Victories by Air21 and Talk n Text sealed the one-two-three-four-five-six-seven finishes of Petron Blaze, San Mig Coffee, Meralco, Rain or Shine, Globalport, Barako Bull and Alaska Milk.
It will be San Mig Coffee versus Alaska Milk, Meralco against Barako Bull, Rain or Shine opposite Globalport and Petron versus either Talk n Text or Ginebra in the quarterfinals. The Top Four set out for the quarters armed with a twice-to-beat advantage.
“The guys willed themselves to victory,” said Talk n Text coach Norman Black. “Good thing we won and we’ll be able to play another game. What’s bad is we play them again in 24 hours,” Black also said. “Hopefully, they would be tired as we are.”
Jimmy Alapag found his touch when needed the most, firing three huge triples as the Texters finally got over the hump, nailing a first win in six games.
Courtney Fells also played big with 26 points, five rebounds and two assists as he finally tasted a win in three games in the local pro league.
The Kings were waging their last comeback try when Alapag strung up three straight treys, restoring a double-digit lead for TnT at 107-95.
Larry Fonacier also fired away a trey then Harvey Carey came through with a three-point play as the Texters eventually settled the outcome of the game at 115-95.
The Kings fell behind by 14 in the third quarter but LA Tenorio, Mark Caguioa and Dior Lowhorn worked on a rousing run tying the count at 79-all going into the payoff period.
The Texters, however, regained bearing in time and went to live to fight another game.
The scores:
Talk N’ Text 113 – Fells 26, Carey 18, Peek 16, Alapag 15, Fonacier 12, Castro 11, Ferriols 8, De Ocampo 5, Anthony 2, Reyes R. 0, Aquino 0, Reyes J. 0, Aban 0.
Ginebra 99 – Lowhorn 31, Caguioa 29, Tenorio 18, Baracael 7, Helterbrand 6, Ellis 2, Maierhofer 2, Wilson 2, Mamaril 2, Labagala 0, Raymundo 0.
Quarters: 30-30, 62-54, 79-79, 113-99
Source: http://pba.inquirer.net/31359/talk-n-text-forces-ko-game-for-last-qf-seat
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