TALK ‘N Text threw away a 23-point first half lead and then walked the tightrope before turning back Barako Bull in overtime, 87-80, last night to keep solo third place in the PLDT MyDSL Philippine Cup at Mall of Asia Arena.
The defending champion Texters held the Energy to seven first quarter points and to 19 at the half only to go cold in the third and fourth periods before hanging on to raise their record to 5-2 with a third straight win.
Barako Bull just couldn’t execute down the stretch, failing to score in the last 90 seconds of overtime to lose for the sixth straight game after opening with two consecutive victories.
James Yap nailed a go-ahead triple in the stretch and San Mig Coffee held off Globalport, 83-80, in the second game.
The Batang Pier had one chance to turn things around after Yap’s triple gave the Mixers an 81-80 lead, but rookie Justin Chua turned the ball over in the final play, leading to two free throws by Mark Barroca to ice scoring.
Willie Miller, the former two-time MVP dealt to the Energy in the off-season, forged the extension at 71-all with 29 seconds left with a triple from the left corner before both squads bungled potential winning plays at the end of regulation.
The 6-foot Miller was also not spared by the Barako Bull drought in the final 90 seconds, missing three straight free throws which would have tied it all up again at 83 before Nonoy Baclao and Jason Castro buried two free throws each to put the game away.
Ranidel de Ocampo was also big in the extension, firing five straight points in a 29-second span capped by a triple with 1:05 left that gave the Texters the lead to stay, 83-80.
Meanwhile, Petron Blaze and Barangay Ginebra, sister teams lording it over the field, try to extend their respective winning runs going into their much-anticipated Christmas Day clash when they battle separate foes in today’s Petron Saturday Special Games also at the MOA Arena.
The Boosters, untouched in seven games, slug it out with a Rain or Shine crew itching to get back on track in the 5:45 p.m. game, while the Gin Kings also face a dangerous foe in Alaska at 3:30 p.m.
The scores:
First Game
TALK ‘N TEXT 87—Castro 23, De Ocampo 17, Fonacier 13, Williams 10, Seigle 9, Carey 6, Baclao 4, Aban 3, Anthony 2, Celiz 0, Reyes 0, Poligrates 0.
BARAKO BULL 80—Miller 16, Intal 14, Pennisi 11, Jensen 10, Miranda 10, Pena 7, Buenafe 5, Maierhofer 3, Lastimosa 2, Isip 2, Wilson 0, Marcelo 0, Labagala 0.
Quarters: 18-7, 39-19, 57-44, 71-71, 87-80
Second Game
SAN MIG COFFEE 83—Barroca 18, Sangalang 15, Yap 15, Simon 14, Devance 13, Pingris 4, Mallari 2, Reavis 2, Cawaling 0, Holstein 0.
GLOBALPORT 80—Mercado 18, Washington 15, Chua 11, Nabong 8, Hayes 8, Garcia 8, Menk 6, Yee 2, Salva 2, Romeo 2, Villanueva 0, Lingganay 0, Salvador 0.
Quarters: 18-19, 41-37, 64-58, 83-80