Texters slam B Pier; fight for Top 2 today

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:15 p.m. – Petron vs Barako Bull

6:30 p.m. – Ginebra vs Meralco

MANILA, Philippines - Talk n Text closed the playoffs on Globalport as the Texters thumped the Batang Pier, 94-84, in the final leg of the Phoenix Fuel PBA on Tour series at the University of San Agustin Gym in Iloilo last night.

Ryan Reyes and Jimmy Alapag scored clutch baskets as the Texters fended off the Batang Pier’s fourth-quarter rally, notching a sixth win against the same number of losses to tie the San Mig Coffee Mixers at sixth place.

Batang Pier moved out of the running for the post-elim plays with a 2-10 card.

Back at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Petron Blaze, Barangay Ginebra and Meralco fight to stay in the race for the Top Two while Barako Bull battles for survival in a crucial double-header in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup tonight.

The skidding Boosters play the Energy Cola and new import DJ Mbenga at 4:15 p.m. then the fired-up Kings and the equally hot Bolts square off at 6:30 p.m.

Petron, Ginebra and Meralco all try to close in on leaders Alaska Milk (9-3) and Rain or Shine (8-4), gunning for a seventh win against five losses even as Barako Bull (4-7) seeks to get going with a new import.

Ginebra and Meralco break off their tie at third place in an expected slambang game even in the continued absence of Mark Caguioa and Kerby Raymundo on the Kings’ roster.

Minus the two, the Kings roared on Wednesday, pulling off a fifth straight victory with a 90-84 thumping of the Air21 Express.

The Ginebra-Meralco match has become a virtual playoff duel as the Bolts caught up with the Kings two nights later on their 102-92 drubbing of the Boosters.

“The two (Caguioa and Raymundo) are still doubtful but I’m sure we’ll be coming out fighting,” said Ginebra coach Alfrancis Chua.

“We are playing the hottest team in the league. It is an amazing streak considering that Caguioa is not even playing,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio.

“We acknowledge the fact that stopping a rampaging Ginebra team is no easy feat, but definitely workable,” Gregorio added. “(LA) Tenorio is running the show, so he must be shackled while Vernon Macklin’s dominance in the shaded lane must be addressed.”

Both teams are on a streak with the Bolts winning their last two games – versus the Globalport Batang Pier and the Boosters.

Eric Dawson erupted for a nine-year league-high of 57 points in a megavolt performance powering Meralco past Petron Blaze and into joint third place with the Ginebra Kings and the Boosters at 6-5.

Dawson was a tremendous source of power and energy for the Bolts Friday, bulldozing his way to 20 field-goal conversions and 17 charities in the most productive showing by any player in the league since Derrick Brown put in the same output in a game with Sta. Lucia Realty in 2004.