MANILA, Philippines - Talk n Text, priming up for a key match against Rain or Shine this weekend, routed hapless Shopinas.com, 96-83, while resting some of its ace players as it remained in the lead in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum last night.
Jayson Castro and Japeth Aguilar took charge with 17 and 16 points, respectively, as the Tropang Texters streaked to their fifth straight victory and seventh overall in eight outings.
“The keys for us in this ballgame were, one, not take the other team lightly and not take them for granted and, two, we wanted to find a way for our key guys to get a rest because we have a big game in Cagayan de Oro this Saturday against Rain or Shine,” said TnT coach Chot Reyes.
Ranged against a lightweight opponent, Reyes opted to use Kelly Williams, Jared Dillinger and Larry Fonacier sparingly as it geared up for a showdown with No. 2 Rain or Shine (7-2) in Cagayan de Oro on Saturday.
In the nightcap, Mark Cardona scored on a drive in the closing seconds as Meralco snatched a 98-96 victory over Powerade to improve to fifth place with a 6-4 card.
The Tigers fell to their sixth setback against three win.
Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra got two young players it hopes will boost its sagging PBA Philippine Cup campaign with Rico Maeirhofer and Allein Maliksi expected to suit up in the Kings’ next game against the B-Meg Llamados on Sunday.
PBA commissioner Chito Salud yesterday approved the revised three-team deal involving Ginebra, Barako Bull and B-Meg, ensuring the teams get equal value for the players and/or picks they gave up.
B-Meg will get the 6-9 de Ocampo, a center who could fit well for coach Tim Cone’s Triangle Offense, and Ginebra’s second round pick in 2012.
Barako Bull, for its part, will get Jimbo Aquino from Ginebra plus a 2013 first round draft pick from B-Meg for sending Maliksi, the first D-League MVP picked eighth overall in this year’s PBA rookie draft pick, to Ginebra.
“All teams get equal value for the players and/or picks they gave up,” said Salud in a statement. “This equalizes the three teams’ strength in terms of the needs now and in the future.”
The scores:
First Game
Talk n Text 96 – Castro 17, Aguilar 16, De Ocampo 10, Carey 10, Dillinger 8, Williams 8, Gamalinda 6, Oreta 5, Raymundo 4, Weinstein 4, Fonacier 4, Membrere 2, Lao 2.
Shopinas.com 83 – Duncil 16, Espiritu 13, Escobal 13, Jazul 7, Sena 6, Menor 6, Hubalde 5, Sison 4, Aquino 4, Ritualo 4, Daa 3, Mirza 2, Canlas 0.
Quarterscores: 19-17, 51-32, 76-52, 96-83
Second Game
Meralco 98 – Espinas 25, Cardona 18, Taulava 12, Mercado 11, Lanete 8, Borboran 7, Yee 6, Macapagal 4, Timberlake 3, Omolon 2, Hugnatan 2, Ballesteros 0, Isip 0.
Powerade 96 – David 26, Kramer 17, Casio 14, Crisano 11, Lassiter 8, Lingganay 7, Calimag 6, Adducul 4, Cruz 3, Martinez 0, Vanlandingham 0, Allera 0, Antonio 0.
Quarterscores: 23-17, 52-48, 79-84, 98-96