Texters survive gritty Meralco Bolts

Games tomorrow (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

5:45 p.m. – Alaska vs Globalport

8 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs San Miguel

MANILA, Philippines - Talk n Text was tested by a tough-playing Meralco right on its first game after a heartbreak loss in the last conference. It needed  superb efforts from import Othyus Jeffers and Jayson Castro to overcome this one.

The Tropang Texters blew away double-digit leads and leaned on Castro, the Commissioner’s Cup Best Player, for a decisive surge in the closing minutes and a 105-99 win over the Bolts in the PBA PLDT Home Telpad Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

“It was a good way to start the third conference. The best way to get back into the groove is to get a win today,” said Talk n Text coach Norman Black.

“Meralco played really hard but our players responded and played very well,” Black also said.

Jeffers came through with a superb job with 38 points and 13 rebounds while Castro scored 21 points and took charge as Talk n Text fought back from a five-point deficit in the last 2:23 of play.

Castro took charge at the finish, completing a three-point play, hitting a three-pointer and making four charities to bail his team out of trouble.

In the clutch, Meralco seemed to take full control at 97-92 as Cliff Hodge stepped up, defending, rebounding and scoring. But the Bolts went on a scoring slump and suffered a second straight loss following a 94-95 defeat at the hands of the Barako Bull Energy Cola Sunday.

Hodge delivered 24 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks, three assists and one steal in a solid 34-minute performance, but failed to stand his ground on defense on crucial attacks by the Texters in the crunch.

San Mig Coffee showed no signs of championship fatigue as it blasted Barako Bull, 76-66, later in the night.

With a balanced scoring, the Mixers took control most of the way and overcame a challenge put up by the Energy Cola in the payoff period.

Notes: Columbian Auto Car and Ever Bilena have settled fees guaranteeing entry to the PBA by next season, but not NLEX which is now having second thoughts on making the jump from the PBA D-League, turned off by the deal given them by the PBA board to form their lineup. Their last communication to the PBA Commissioner’s Office was a request for the extension of the deadline for the payment of the P100-million franchise fee to June 7. Sources said NLEX, a dominant force in the D-League, may not push through with its plan to join the PBA if they’re not able to find a way to form a competitive roster.

The scores:

First Game

Talk n Text 105 – Jeffers 38, De Ocampo 22, Castro 21, Carey 7, Fonacier 6, Williams 4, Alapag 3, Seigle 2, Canaleta 2, Reyes Ryan 0, Reyes Rob 0, Baclao 0.

Meralco 99 – Hodge 24, Williams 20, David 15, Hugnatan 12, Dillinger 12, Salvacion 6, Ildefonso 4, Bringas 2, Sena 2, Wilson 2, Timberlake 0.

Quarterscores: 26-19, 50-43, 75-72,105-99

Second Game

San Mig Coffee 76 – Simon 17, Blakely 10, Yap 9, Maliksi 8, Pingris 8, Devance 6, Sangalang 6, Melton 5, Barroca 3, Mallari 2, Reavis 2.

 Barako 66 – Wise 25, Intal 11, Fortuna 7, Lastimosa 6, Najorda 4, Miller 4, Deutchman 3, Jensen 2, Isip 2, Thiele 1, Miranda 1, Wilson 0, Marcelo 0.

 Quarterscores: 25-21, 39-34, 58-54, 76-66