TnT slams Powerade

MANILA, Philippines - Larry Fonacier made a career-high 27 points on a scintillating 8-of-11 three-point shooting as Talk n Text withstood a tough Powerade challenge, squeezing out an 89-85 win in a PBA Governors Cup road game at the Davao del Sur Sports Center in Digos, Davao del Sur last night.

Fonacier was Talk n Text’s man of the hour, bailing the team out of trouble with his eighth and final triple that gave the Tropang Texters an 88-85 lead with time down to 18 seconds.

The Tropang Texters put up a good defense on the next play and went on to sustain their searing streak going to Dubai for back-to-back games versus B-Meg Llamados Thursday and the Barangay Ginebra Kings Friday.

Talk n Text, chasing the final jewel of a possible grand slam season, notched a third straight win while dealing Powerade a third loss in four starts.

Thanks to Fonacier, the Texters kept their clean slate in the tourney and preserved a six-conference winning streak versus Powerade.

The Texters have won all of their last 12 meetings with the Tigers.

Fonacier came through with a new career best output with eight triples and a three-point play, coming with two assists in the game serving as the third leg of the Phoenix Fuel PBA on Tour.

He made the most number of triples in a game in the league since Ronjay Buenafe poured in the same number of treys with Air21 in the Philippine Cup.

The Tigers had erased a 16-point deficit and were threatening to steal the game when Fonacier, drawing a kick-out pass from Jason Castro, rifled in a dagger of a triple right in front of the TnT bench.

Gary David, returning from a three-game layoff due to a fractured hand, missed his own three-point attempt in the next play, allowing TnT to nail an 18th win in its last 20 games dating back to the Commissioner’s Cup.

Fonacier more than made up for Maurice Baker’s struggling performance. The TnT import wound up with only 11 points.

Chris Porter had 18 and David 10 to pace the Tigers.

Talk n Text took the half at 43-31 on an 11-to-nothing closing run ignited by back-to-back three-pointers by Fonacier.

The Texters led by as many as 16 later on at 53-37.

Meanwhile, Stefhon Hannah is expected to go all out in his final chance to show his worth as B-Meg takes on Meralco at the resumption of play at The Arena in San Juan tonight.

Another mediocre showing from Hannah could prompt B-Meg to make an import change with the team having found a prospective import replacement in Darnell Hinson.

Hinson carved a stellar career with a US NCAA Division II champion team then had overseas stints in Germany, Holland, Australia, the Netherlands and France.

Apparently, Hinson will be available by the time B-Meg plays Talk n Text in Dubai Thursday.

The Llamados, however, still try to make do with Hannah as they tangle with the Bolts at 6:30 p.m. tonight.

Alaska Milk and Air21 clash in the 4:15 p.m. opener with the Aces looking for a follow-up to their 107-102 win over the Llamados Wednesday and the Express hoping to arrest a three-game slump.