Talk n Text averts disaster, slips past Air21

MANILA, Philippines – Keith Benson came through with clutch plays at the finish and Talk n Text survived Nino Canaleta’s 20-point fourth-quarter explosion, eking out an 86-83 win over Air21 in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.

The Tropang Texters had squandered a 22-point third-quarter spread before Benson struck with two big baskets underneath the paint saving Talk n Text from what could have been a sorry loss.

Benson finished with 30 points and 18 rebounds as the Texters bounced back from a 92-99 upset by the Meralco Bolts Saturday.

“It got scary in the end as KG (Canaleta) started hitting three-point shots which really hurt us. Luckily, we had a big lead and we made stops in the end,” said Talk n Text coach Norman Black.

“They became aggressive on defense and we couldn’t get our set plays. Luckily also, we made crucial plays in the end,” Black also said.

Canaleta, scoring only three points in the first three quarters, sizzled with six triples and a total of 20 points in the payoff period allowing the Aces to rally from a 22-point deficit, coming within one at 77-78.

The Texters were still protecting a precarious one-point lead, 80-79, before Benson converted a basket from a lob pass by Ranidel de Ocampo and later got away with a three-point play from an offensive rebound to give TnT an 85-81 lead with time down to 38.1 seconds.

The Express actually still got an opportunity to tie in the closing seconds but Mike Cortez and Bonbon Custodio missed an attempt each from beyond the arc.

Benson played much better from his previous game and proved to be TnT’s saviour in this game.

Nonetheless, Black said their import is still under evaluation.

Air21’s Michael Dunigan struggled facing Talk n Text’s double-teaming defense, logging only 19 markers and seven rebounds.

And it took Canaleta’s explosion for the Express get into the fight in the payoff period.

The Texters asserted themselves in the second quarter, making a vicious attack to break a close 23-20 count open, 52-31, with 25 seconds left in the first half.

De Ocampo, fresh from the bench, ignited their second-quarter breakaway, scoring 13 of their 15 markers from 25-20 count.

Jarred Dillinger and Rabeh Al-Hussaini joined the fray later helping the Texters get their 52-33 halftime lead.