Texters zap Energy; Kings dismiss B Pier

Game tomorrow (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

5 p.m. – Alaska vs Meralco

MANILA, Philippines - All “twice-to-beat” holders in the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs took only a game to bundle out their respective foes.

Talk n Text reasserted its supremacy over Barako Bull, 105-76, while Barangay Ginebra walloped Globalport, 95-78, in a game that really mattered as the Texters and the Kings advanced to the knockout stage of the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo last night.

At the start of the post-elims play Thursday, Alaska Milk and Meralco trounced NLEX and Purefoods Star, respectively, to also march into the next stage.

The Texters and the Kings dispute the right to play the San Miguel Beermen in the semifinals while the Aces and the Bolts face off for the Final Four berth versus the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

Asserting themselves mightily in the last 35 minutes of the game, the Texters posted the second most lopsided victory in the tourney on the way to making it 11-1 in their head-on duels with the Energy dating back to 2012.

Ginebra dominated Globalport practically over the same stretch as the Kings avenged a 77-98 blowout by the Batang Pier in their elims setto.

Rookie Matt Rosser topscored with 19 points on 8-of-10 field shooting while Jayson Castro and another rookie Kevin Alas combined for six triples and a total of 28 points as TnT repeated its big win over Barako Bull in the elims and sent the Energy to the sidelines with Blackwater, Kia Motors, NLEX, Purefoods Star and Globalport.

“It’s nice we won, but it just brought us to the next level. There’s still another game that we have to think of,” said Talk n Text coach Jong Uichico.

“I felt Barako just had a hard time coping up with the zone (defense),” said Uichico after their 29-point victory, the second most lopsided in the tourney after Alaska’s 105-64 conquest of Meralco last Oct. 31.

The Texters did employ a tough zone defense and were as devastating on the offensive end as they made it five in a row dating back to the elimination round.

Talk n Text has overcome its slow season start, having won eight of its last nine games.

Another good news for the Texters is that they’re back with a complete lineup.

Uichico broke in Kelly Williams after a five-game layoff, and the former MVP winner chipped in two points and two rebounds in five minutes of action.

Jimmy Alapag also played a few minutes, contributing three assists and three rebounds.

Uichico actually utilized all his 14 players with Larry Fonacier (with11) and Rob Reyes (with 10) ending up the fourth and fifth guys finishing in double figures.

The Texters hardly gave the Energy a chance with an attack coming from all over the floor.

Talk n Text pummeled Barako, 54-32, on inside points; 30-9 on three-point shooting and 12-3 on fastbreak.

The Energy were limited to 3-of-24 clip from beyond the arc, obviously missing the shooting prowess of Mick Pennisi whom they gave up for Isaac Holstein and Ronnie Matias before the playoffs.  

Curiously, JC Intal, who just married longtime girlfriend Bianca Gonzalez, paced the losing team with 16 markers.

Talk n Text stoked the fire of its blazing run at the close of the elims, overwhelming Barako Bull with an unrelenting attack and zone defense to pull off a 105-76 rout and book a berth in the knockout stage of the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo last night.

The Tropang Texters asserted themselves mightily in the last 35 minutes of the match, posting the second most lopsided victory in the tourney as they advanced to the second phase of the quarters versus the winner of the Barangay Ginebra-Globalport matchup.

Talk n Text, a former Philippine Cup three-peat champ, became the third team to move into the KO play after Alaska Milk and Meralco.

“It’s nice we won, but it just brought us to the next level. There’s still another game that we have to think of,” said Talk n Text coach Jong Uichico.

Rookie Matt Rosser topscored with 19 points on 8-of-10 field shooting while Jayson Castro and another rookie Kevin Alas combined for six triples and a total of 28 points as TnT repeated its big win over Barako Bull in the elims and sent the Energy to the sidelines with early casualties Blackwater, Kia Motors, NLEX and Purefoods Star.

“I felt Barako just had a hard time coping up with the zone (defense),” said Uichico after their 29-point victory, the second most lopsided in the tourney after Alaska’s 105-64 conquest of Meralco last Oct. 31.

The Texters did employ a tough zone defense and were as devastating on the offensive end as they made it five in a row dating back to the elimination round. Talk n Text has won eight of its last nine games.

But with a complete lineup, the Texters have become more intimidating.

Uichico broke in Kelly Williams after a five-game layoff, and the former MVP winner chipped in two points and two rebounds in five minutes of action.

Jimmy Alapag also played a few minutes, contributing three assists and three rebounds.

Uichico actually utilized all his 14 players with Larry Fonacier (with 11) and Rob Reyes (with 10) ending up the fourth and fifth TnT guys in double figures.

The Texters hardly gave the Energy a chance with an attack coming from all over the floor.

Talk n Text pummeled Barako, 54-32, on inside points; 30-9 on three-point shooting and 12-3 on fastbreak.

The Energy were limited to 3-of-24 clip from beyond the arc, obviously missing the shooting prowess of Mick Pennisi whom they gave up for Isaac Holstein and Ronnie Matias before the playoffs.  

Curiously, JC Intal, who just married longtime girlfriend Bianca Gonzalez, paced the losing team with 16 markers.

The scores: 

First Game

TALK N’ TEXT 105 – Rosser 19, Alas 14, Castro 14, Fonacier 11, Reyes R.J. 10, Washington 9, De Ocampo 7, Seigle 5, Aban 5, Carey 4, Reyes R. 3, Williams 2, Espiritu 2, Alapag 0.

BARAKO 76 – Intal 16, Wilson 15, Miranda 9, Paredes 8, Marcelo 7, Lanete 7, Garcia 4, Salvador 4, Lastimosa 4, Matias 2, Holstein 0, Pena 0, Hubalde 0, Pascual 0.

Quarterscores: 23-19, 47-32, 76-52, 105-76

Second Game

GINEBRA 95 – Aguilar 19, Caguioa 15, Baracael 12, Slaughter 11, Mamaril 9, Tenorio 9, Yeo 9, Reyes 6, Monfort 3, Ellis 2, Forrester 0, Helterbrand 0, Brondial 0.

GLOBALPORT 78 – Pringle 26, Romeo 21, Mercado 9, Buenafe 8, Isip 6, Nabong 5, Baclao 3, Semerad 0, Caperal 0, Taha 0, Jensen 0, De Ocampo 0.

Quarterscores: 15-23, 49-35, 74-58, 95-78