Texters top elims; playoff for 2nd up

MANILA, Philippines - Talk n Text left nothing to chance, overpowering also-ran Petron, 107-80, to secure top honors at the close of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

The Tropang Texters made it four in a row versus the Boosters in their head-on duels dating back to the Philippine Cup and thus closed out their second-conference elims stint with a league-best 7-2 win-loss card.

Being the elims top-notchers, the Texters gained outright entry into the best-of-five semifinals.

For the record, the dominant PLDT/Smart franchise topped the preliminaries for the fifth time in the last six conferences.

Earlier, Barangay Ginebra walloped Air21, 103-87, to force a playoff with B-Meg for the second outright semis berth.

The Kings, losing finalists in this mid-season tourney last year, seized momentum in the second quarter on the way to closing out their elims stint at 6-3.

Winning their last three games, the Kings forced a double-playoff to decide the final seedings.

Ginebra plays B-Meg for the second outright semis berth while Powerade and Meralco slug it out for the sixth and last quarters slot in the double-playoff set tomorrow at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Barako Bull, Powerade and Meralco actually finished tied for fifth with identical 4-5 slates. The Energy gained fifth seeding on a superior quotient, leaving the Tigers and the Bolts to dispute the sixth slot in a knockout setto.

Ginebra unleashed a 10-to-nothing run to open a double-digit spread, 46-34, in the second quarter, and the Kings refused to slow down, foiling the Express’ bid for a triumphant exit in the tourney.

Air21, Petron and Rain or Shine ended up tied at the tail end at 3-6.

Jackson Vroman played just enough minutes, tallying 19 points and 13 rebounds in the game marred by a commotion involving Ginebra assistant coach Allan Caidic and Air21 enforcer Ogie Menor at the end of the first half.

Both were called a technical foul. Having incurred an earlier infraction, Menor was barred from returning to court for the second half.

Earlier, Menor bumped Jackson Vroman in a rebound play, an incident leading to a confrontation between the Ginebra import and Air21 counterpart Marcus Douthit.

The former San Beda stalwart played only four minutes in two games in the tourney, getting four points, one rebound and one steal against four turnovers and three technical fouls.

He also incurred couples of Ts in the first conference, earning a reputation as a pesky player.

Marcus Douthit collected 19 points and 23 rebounds which were not enough to save Air21 from a last-place finish.

Air21 guard RJ Jazul also piled up 19 points on a remarkable 6-of-12 three-point shooting.

Mike Cortez and Mark Caguioa were two other Ginebra players who finished in double figures with 18 and 13, respectively.

The scores:

First Game

Ginebra 103 – Vroman 19, Cortez 18, Caguioa 13, Ababou 9, Raymundo 9, W. Wilson 8, Villanueva 8, Hatfield 8, Labagala 6, J. Wilson 3, Canaleta 2, Mamaril 0.

Air21 87 – Douthit 19, Jazul 19, Omolon 15, Sena 11, Ritualo 10, Hubalde 7, Isip 4, Escobal 2, Sison 0, Espiritu 0, Menor 0, Duncil 0.

Quarterscores: 26-25, 53-42, 78-67, 103-87

Second Game

Talk n Text 107 – Castro 19, Dillinger 16, Harvey 15, Alapag 11, Williams 10, Aguilar 9, Reyes 7, Fonacier 6, Carey 6, De Ocampo 5, Gamalinda 3, Raymundo 0.

Petron 80 – McDonald 20, Santos 16, Yeo 11, Miranda 11, Ildefonso 6, Guevarra 4, Tugade 4, Al-Hussaini 2, Reyes 2, Lanete 2, Cabagnot 2, Rizada 0.

Quarterscores: 26-21, 49-39, 82-63, 107-80