Texters ward off Kings, near semis

MANILA, Philippines - Talk n Text kept its franchise-record run going and closed in on an outright semifinal entry as it got back at Barangay Ginebra, 92-84, in a PBA Fiesta Conference road game at the Batangas City Sports Center last night.

The Tropang Texters came well prepared against the Kings and their new import Denham Brown, notching an 11th straight win that assured the team of a spot in the Magic Five at the close of the double-round elimination play.

Another win guarantees the Texters a playoff crack at an outright semis berth.

Jimmy Alapag outclassed Willie Miller, Jayjay Helterbrand and Celino Cruz, getting 21 points and seven rebounds as Talk n Text avenged a 90-97 loss to the Kings in their previous tiff and in the process gained the solo lead in the standings at 12-2.

The Kings suffered a second straight loss and slid from joint third to fifth place at 8-6.

Rain or Shine, running sixth with a 6-6 slate, looks to draw closer as it plays Sta. Lucia Realty today at the resumption of action at the Araneta Coliseum.

San Miguel Beer seeks to regain a piece of the lead while B-MEG Derby Ace goes for solo third as they slug it out in the other game.

R n B artist Young JV and acoustic singer Sabrina provide entertainment in today’s double-header.

Mark Cardona, Harvey Carey and Ranidel de Ocampo also churned out double-digit outputs for TnT in the Batangas stop of the Phoenix Fuel PBA on Tour.

Brown, who once scored 111 points in a game in his high school years in Toronto, struggled for only 25 in his Ginebra debut.

He hastened their downfall in missing a short jumper and two free throws in the final minute.

Sunday Salvacion, playing extended minutes as Ronald Tubid served a one-game suspension, put in nine points including back-to-back three-pointers that brought Ginebra back into the game at 84-86 with 1:02 left to play.

Talk n Text eased the pressure as Ryan Reyes and Alapag made two free throws each.