Harris makes fiery return, lifts Texters

Game today (Xavier Gym, Cagayan de Oro City)

5 p.m. – San Miguel Beermen vs Meralco Bolts

Standings

TEAM                                    W            L

Talk n Text                          5              1

Barangay Ginebra            4              1

San Mig Coffee                 4              2

Air21 Express                     4              2

San Miguel Beermen      4              2

Rain or Shine                      3              3

Alaska Aces                        3              4

GlobalPort                          1              5

Meralco                               1              5

Barako Bull                          1              5

MANILA, Philippines - Paul Harris made a grand return to Talk n Text, sizzling for 37 points to lead the Tropang Texters to a 97-82 victory over GlobalPort and into the solo lead in the 2014 PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome last night.

Playing on his third tour of duty with TnT, Harris fired 28 markers in the second half, spiking his fiery production with five triples in the last 24 minutes as the Texters ripped the game apart en route to a 5-1 win-loss card.

“He helped us a lot tonight,” said TnT coach Norman Black of Harris who arrived only last Tuesday to replace Rodney Carney.

The 27-year-old Harris, who converted six of his eight attempts from beyond the arc overall, also grabbed 14 rebounds, issued four assists and had one steal as he showed he hasn’t lost the form that he showed when he previously led TnT to the 2011 Commissioner’s Cup crown. He also beefed them up in the Governors Cup the following year.

“We’ve welcomed Paul Harris with open arms. As you know, he played with us before and helped us win a championship. Problem is, he’s only practiced with us for two days and now is the time for us to start building and getting some momentum going to the end of the eliminations,” said Black.

The Batang Pier fought the Texters toe-to-toe in the first half, even holding the lead at some point in the second period and early in the third quarter. 

Then Harris took over.

Harris banged in back-to-back treys as TnT wiped out a three-point deficit and took control, opening a 69-63 margin at the end of the third. Not easing up and riding on Harris’ hot shooting and Jayson Castro’s efforts, the Texters seized an 82-69 cushion going to the last 7:31.

“Today was a good game for us. We struggled a lot in the first half but in the second half, we clamped down on defense. Paul Harris came up with big shots, I think he made four three-points that really helped us separate. But we feel our defense was really key in the second half, that’s why we’re able to separate,” said Black.

Castro finished with 14 markers and five assists while Ranidel de Ocampo added 11 points and seven boards for TnT, which notched its fourth straight win and moved closer to a quarterfinal berth in the season-ending conference.

Dior Lowhorn shot 22 points and hauled down 10 caroms to pace the Batang Pier, who slipped to 1-5 in a share of the cellar with idle Meralco and Barako Bull.

Alaska bounced back from a horrendous 51-point loss two days ago with a 93-84 triumph over San Mig Super Coffee Mixers in the second game.

The Aces cranked it up in the second half to set the tone for the ego-boosting win that got them out of a three-game slump highlighted by that infamous 72-123 setback to Rain or Shine last Wednesday 

The Aces, who led by as many as 22 points at 82-60,  improved to 3-4 while pulling the Mixers down to joint third with 4-2.

“The guys showed up; they played with so much intensity and drive,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton. “I just challenged them to show who they are (especially after that loss).”

The scores:

First Game

Talk n Text 97 – Harris 37, Castro 14, De Ocampo 13, Fonacier 7, Reyes Ryan 7, Alapag 5, Williams 4, Canaleta 4, Seigle 2, Reyes Jai 2, Baclao 2, Aban 0, Carey 0.

Globalport 82 – Lowhorn 22, Cabagnot 17, Menk 11, Yee 8, Romeo 8, Buenafe 5, Lingganay 4, Hayes 3, Ponferrada 2, Macapagal 2, Salvador 0, Acuna 0.

Quarterscores: 23-23, 41-39, 69-63, 97-82

Second Game

Alaska 93 – Walker 32, Manuel 14, Baguio 13, Espinas 11, Thoss 9, Abueva 6, Casio 5, Dela Cruz 2, Jazul 1, Reyes 0, Hontiveros 0.

San Mig Coffee 84 – Devance 14, Mallari 13, Blakely 11, Simon 10, Maliksi 9, Reavis 9, Sangalang 7, Yap 6, Melton 4, Pingris 1, Barroca 0.

Quarterscores: 17-19, 39-37, 71-58, 93-84