Texters reload, pull off crucial win over Tigers

MANILA, Philippines – Gary Forbes turned in a more impressive performance in his second game with Talk n Text, leading the Tropang Texters to a crucial 103-100 win over the Coca-Cola Tigers in a Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference road game at the Calape Sports Center in Calape, Bohol last night.

Forbes poured 17 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter as the Texters checked their three-game slump to wheel back into contention for an outright semifinals berth with a 6-6 win-loss record.

Talk n Text caught up with Sta. Lucia at sixth place while Coca-Cola stayed at eighth with a 4-7 slate, now just half-game ahead of Alaska Milk at 4-8.

Forbes, a Panamanian national player who took over from Tiras Wade, fueled two key runs in the fourth quarter to power the team to victory.

The versatile 6-foot-5 player rattled in nine straight points as TnT closed to within two at 81-83 after trailing by seven, 72-79, at the end of the third quarter.

As TnT held on to a precarious 90-88 lead, Forbes put in eight in a 13-10 exchange, giving the Texters more breathing space at 103-98 with time down to 1:46.

Nic Belasco scored on an undergoal stab to make it 100-103 but Asi Taulava and James Penny misfired.

From that count with 1:20 left to play, both teams went scoreless the rest of the way, enabling the Texters to preserve a three-point win.

Meanwhile, San Miguel Beer tries to clinch an automatic slot in the semifinal round as it battles Burger King at the resumption of play at the Araneta Coliseum today. – Nelson Beltran