PBA: Texters take over in 4th to defeat Energy for perfect record

By: Celest R. Flores - 11 years ago

Richard Howell of Talk N Text (dark) vs Dorian Pena of Barako (light). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines — Talk N’ Text got its bearings together in the payoff period to defeat Barako Bull, 101-96, Sunday in the 2014 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

After struggling to overtake the Energy for the first three quarters, the Texters saw an opening early in the fourth and then took the lead for a league-best 4-0 card.

“It feels good to get off to a good start. Like I said before, it’s important for us to get ahead and not play catch up,” said head coach Norman Black.

Everytime the Texters saw the crack to take over as they came to within a point, the Energy knocked down a basket to stretch the lead.

“This game, we struggled because they were zoning our pick and rolls. It was hard to execute against it,” Black admitted.

“In the second half, execution was much better. A better job on Dollard in the second half.”

But three free throws from KG Cañaleta and a basket from import Richard Howell gave Talk N’ Text a 74-71 lead, which the Texters managed to stretch to as big as eight midway of the final frame.

Barako Bull, behind import Joshua Dollard, kept within striking distance and was only trailing 86-88 with two minutes to play, but Larry Fonacier knocked a trey to give the Texters a safe cushion.

Star guard Jayson Castro scattered 25 points for Talk N’ Text, Howell added 23, Cañaleta 18, Fonacier 16 and De Ocampo 11.

Dollard had a much better night compared to Friday’s finishing with 33 points for the Energy, but it just wasn’t enough to get them over the slump.

Barako Bull dropped to 1-3.