Cliff Hodge of Meralco grabs the rebound and draws a foul from Air21 import Wesley Witherspoon (partly hidden) in Sunday night’s game at Smart Araneta Coliseum. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
MANILA, Philippines — Talk ‘N Text leaning on a balanced offense, brought down another heavyweight in Barangay Ginebra Sunday night and capped a busy 18-day stint in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup unscathed.
Ranidel de Ocampo scored 28 points to lead four others in twin digits and the Talk ‘N Text defense shut down Leon Rodgers’ local support at Ginebra to score a 94-87 decision that gave the Tropang Texters a sixth straight win at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With his Tropang Texters now at 6-0 and closer to the No. 1 spot in the playoffs, coach Norman Black relished the prospect of taking a well-deserved rest.
“We have seven days off, and I am happy to take that,” said Black, adding that he would be giving his boys today and Thursday off.
Black also smiled at the huge break they got with 2:16 left when the Gin Kings had momentum.
Game officials awarded possession to the Texters even if it was clear that Ryan Reyes touched the ball at least twice before going out of bounds.
That incident that happened in front of the baseline official led to two Talk ‘N Text possessions, which De Ocampo did not waste by making a layup with 1:32 left that made it 89-81. “That was one [good] call [for us] the entire game,” Black said.
“Breaks happen like that. We’ve been on the other end [of bum calls] so many times.”
Rodgers scored 32 points but had just two locals contributing in twin digits as Ginebra lost for the third time in five games. Mark Caguioa scored 14 points but was scoreless in the fourth, while LA Tenorio wasn’t as effective and finished with just nine points and seven assists.
Rookie Greg Slaughter had just eight points and Japeth Aguilar was a bigger disappointment by hitting just five after making 1 of 6 field goal tries and plucking down two rebounds in 20 minutes.
Earlier, Brian Butch scored 40 points and grabbed a tournament-high 31 rebounds as Meralco came from 20 points down in the third quarter to nip Air21, 109-98.
That performance by Butch could have also prolonged his stint for the Bolts, who were set on tapping Darnell Jackson as his replacement.
Jared Dillinger scored five key points inside the final minute that completed the Bolts’ rise from a 61-81 third-quarter deficit as Meralco rose to 3-2 while dealing the Express their third loss in five games.
Dillinger also had eight assists, while John Wilson was the second Bolt with a double-double effort with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
New Air21 import Wesley Witherspoon scored 44 points.
The scores:
First Game MERALCO 109—Butch 40, Dillinger 20, Wilson 12, David 11, Hodge 9, Caram 6, Mandani 4, Hugnatan 3, Guevarra 2, Artadi 2, Ildefonso 0, Al-Hussaini 0.
AIR21 98—Witherspoon 44, Cardona 22, Taulava 11, Yeo 7, Borboran 4, Villanueva 4, Camson 4, Atkins 2, Poligrates 0, Ramos 0, Burtscher 0. Quarters: 25-18, 42-53, 68-86, 109-98
Second Game
TALK ‘N TEXT 94—De Ocampo 28, Howell 19, Castro 11, Reyes Ry. 11, Fonacier 10, Williams 8, Canaleta 4, Alapag 3, Reyes Ro. 0, Baclao 0, Carey 0.
GINEBRA 87—Rodgers 32, Caguioa 14, Baracael 13, Tenorio 9, Slaughter 8, Aguilar 5, Ellis 2, Reyes 2, Helterbrand 2.
Quarters: 28-26, 52-40, 76-65, 94-87