Talk ‘N Text routs Petron Blaze, forges PBA Finals tie

TUBOD, LANAO DEL NORTE—Talk ‘N Text survived another physical battle against Petron and hammered out a 103-85 victory Wednesday night in Game 2 of the PBA Governors Cup championship here.

The Texters knotted the series at 1-1 despite playing minus forward Ali Peek from the middle of the second period onward.

Peek was thrown out of the game after being slapped with a second technical foul during a melee that nearly triggered a free-for-all. Talk ‘N Text’s Mark Yee and Petron’s Jojo Duncil were also tossed after the incident that started when Alex Cabagnot of the Blazers fouled Texters counterpart Jason Castro hard.

But it was Petron that seemed deflated by the long break that the officials used up to sort out the mess as it immediately yielded the reins of a match it controlled for most of the first half.

The Texters then went on a strong third quarter run before opening up the final period in a huff on the way to an 83-65 edge.

Meanwhile, three more members of Smart Gilas Pilipinas, the country’s national team eyeing slots in the next Olympics and World Championships, have declared themselves available for the PBA Annual Draft at the Robinson’s Place Manila.

Mark Barroca, Mac Baracael and Jason Ballesteros have signed up for the annual talent-picking event, bringing to 20 the number of prospective rookies for the Aug. 28 event—the first official activity of the pro league for the 2011-12 season.

Barroca and Baracael, former teammates at Far Eastern University in the UAAP, are vital cogs of the Smart Gilas squad. Jason Ballesteros is a key reserve. The three are currently in Chinese Taipei, where the Nationals are competing in the William Jones Cup.

The scores:
TALK ‘N TEXT 103—Castro 24, Reynolds 18, Fonacier 13, Williams 12, Alapag 12, Carey 8, De Ocampo 7, Reyes 3, Dillinger 2, Peek 2, Aban 2, Lao 0.
PETRON 85—Santos 29, Grundy 23, Miranda 8, Pennisi 7, Hubalde 6, Cabagnot 5, Ildefonso 5, Guevarra 1, Salvacion 1, Baclao 0, Duncil 0.
Quarters: 19-27, 41-48, 71-65, 103-85