Texters treys zap Energy

Game today (Dipolog City)

5 p.m. – Purefoods vs Rain or Shine

MANILA, Philippines - Talk n Text banked on its outside gunners to buck Sol Alabi’s dominant presence at the paint as the Tropang Texters stopped the Barako Bull Energy’s unbeaten run with an 80-75 victory to move up to joint third place in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Jayson Castro, Larry Fonacier, Willie Miller and Ranidel de Ocampo combined for 11-of-26 three-pointers, negating Alabi’s 21-point and 23-rebound performance as the Texters bounced back from a loss to the Meralco Bolts the last time out and tied the Energy at 3-1.

Meanwhile, Purefoods shoots for a fifth straight win and the solo lead while Rain or Shine guns for a third victory against two losses as they slug it out in a Petron Blaze Saturday Special at 5 p.m. today in Dipolog City.

Castro, Fonacier, Miller, De Ocampo and Matt Rosser all put in double-digit outputs while Richard Howell dished out a double-double job of 18 rebounds and 11 points.

Later in the night, Barangay Ginebra, finding a way to stop 7-foot-3 giant Peter John Ramos in the fourth quarter, overcame Kia, 100-92, for a second straight win after two consecutive losses.

“Credit goes to Japeth. I was able to use him only towards the end, and he responded helping us stop Ramos,” said Ginebra coach Ato Agustin.

NOTES: Junmar Fajardo (38,107) and Greg Slaughter (31,310) emerged the top vote-getters in the 2015 PBA All-Star fan balloting and will thus lead the South team starting lineup in the PBA All-Star Game set March 8 in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Asi Taulava, James Yap and Mark Barroca are the three others voted to the South starting five that will be up against the North’s Marc Pingris, Calvin Abueva, Japeth Aguilar, Mark Caguioa and Justin Melton. The All-Star reserves will be selected by the league’s 12 head coaches.

The scores:

First Game

TALK N’ TEXT 80 – Castro 16, Rosser 15, Miller 13, De Ocampo 11, Howell 11, Fonacier 10, Alas 4, Washington 0, Carey 0, Labagala 0, Espiritu 0, Reyes R. J. 0, Aban 0.

BARAKO 75 – Alabi 21, Lastimosa 16, Pascual 12, Garcia 8, Intal 7, Lanete 5, Wilson 4, Marcelo 2, Chua 0, Salvador 0, Hubalde 0, Salva 0, Paredes 0, Sorongon 0.

Quarterscores: 25-19, 47-37, 62-59, 80-75

Second Game

GINEBRA 100 – Dunigan 27, Slaughter 14, Tenorio 11, Yeo 11, Caguioa 11, Ellis 8, Mamaril 6, Baracael 6, Aguilar 4, Monfort 2, Peña 0, Urbiztondo 0, Helterbrand 0, Ababou 0, Brondial 0.

KIA 92 – Ramos 37, Yee 13, Revilla 9, Avenido 9, Cawaling 6, Pascual 6, Thiele 6, Dehesa 2, Alvarez 2, Bagatsing 2, Poligrates 0, Ighalo 0, Burtscher 0, Buensuceso 0.

Quarterscores: 25-17, 46-45, 70-70, 100-92