Howell powers Texters to semis, Kings get booted out

MANILA, Philippines -- The Talk n Text Tropang Texters dumped the ball in the hands of their bull-strong import at the paint, and Richard Howell punished the Barangay Ginebra Kings all night long.

Fully recovered from a back injury, Howell put in an overpowering 41-point and 22-rebound performance as the Tropang Texters sustained their amazing unbeaten run and blew past the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 97-84, to clinch the first berth in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Final Four at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Tuesday night.

Howell easily imposed himself against local defenders, drawing three quick fouls from Greg Slaughter then making mincemeat of Billy Mamaril and JR Reyes to power the Texters to an early semifinal passage either against the Meralco Bolts or the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

“It’s a little difficult for Ginebra because they’re asking locals to stop Howell. Howell is a pretty good player. He’s really a strong kid,” said TnT coach Norman Black.

“The break also did him well. He’s really energized tonight,” Black added.

It’s an all-Text n Text show as Howell went unstoppable while the TnT wing defenders did their job to neutralize Gabe Freeman.

Talk n Text set the tone of the match early as Slaughter picked up a third foul just six minutes into the contest.

With Slaughter still on the bench, Howell came through with a big binge at the start of the third, and the Texters ripped the game wide open at 60-40.

The Kings had no chance to recover, becoming the third casualty in the mid-season tourney after the Globalport Batang Pier and the Barako Bull Energy Cola.