TALK ‘N Text import Paul Harris tries to dribble free from a swarming Barako Bull defense in last night’s game at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
AUGUST DELA CRUZ
MANILA, Philippines — Packing too much firepower and playing hard-nosed defense, Talk ‘N Text Tuesday night broke away near the end of the third quarter to rout Barako Bull, 99-84, for the first Final Four slot in the PBA Governors’ Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Niño Canaleta came off the bench to knock in six triples on the way to 25 points, and Paul Harris scattered 24 that went with 13 boards as the Texters needed just one game to advance to a best-of-five series against either San Mig Coffee or San Miguel Beer.
“No matter who we will play [in the semifinals], it will be a tough series,” Talk ‘N Text coach Norman Black said. “I don’t really care [who we play], it doesn’t really matter to me, to be quite honest. It’s all about my team focusing on our goals,” Black added, when asked if he and his Texters would secretly root for the Mixers so that they can have a shot at redemption after losing the Commissioner’s Cup title in four games about a month ago.
San Mig Coffee, which is seeking to complete just the league’s fifth Grand Slam with a repeat championship run here, is playing the Beermen in the first of two chances it has to follow Talk ‘N Text to the Final Four.
Ranidel de Ocampo was the second Texter with a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. The Gilas Pilipinas standout also had seven assists, even as Black got a fourth man with twin digits in scoring as Jason Castro contributed 16.
Allen Durham led the Energy with 25 points but was effectively taken out of the offensive flow by the Talk ‘N Text defense in the fourth quarter, the big reason, Black said, the Texters were able to break away. “It was a great team effort by my players today; we were very balanced,” Black said.
“One of the keys for my team is to get at least four guys scoring [big]. KG just had an exceptional shooting night.”
The Texters hit 50 percent of its field-goal shots and all of 10 free throws in the third period, as they easily erased a 41-43 halftime deficit to take a 73-65 lead into the fourth.
Barako Bull’s defense also broke down in the third as the Energy yielded 32 points— just nine less than what they gave up on the Texters the entire first half.
Meanwhile, Rain or Shine and Alaska, ranked second and third, respectively, in the playoffs, also gun for that one win that would give them Final Four slots against Air21 and Barangay Ginebra, respectively Wednesday.
The Elasto Painters battle the Express in the 5:45 p.m. game, with the Aces tangling with the Gin Kings at 8 p.m. also at the Big Dome in Cubao.
Fajardo paces player race Meanwhile, June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer took a commanding lead in the statistical points race for the Best Player of the Conference award with an average of 43.8 SPs.
The 6-foot-10 sophomore, already the Philippine Cup BPC, has a lead of over six SPs over another giant, Air21’s Asi Taulava, with Clifford Hodge of Meralco, Greg Slaughter of Barangay Ginebra and De Ocampo rounding out the top five.
Fajardo paces the league in scoring and rebounding with averages of 21.8 points and 16.0 boards, respectively.
Hodge, whose Bolts got the boot here, turned in an average of 346, with Slaughter, this year’s top overall pick and hands-down winner of the Rookie of the Year award, averaging 34 SPs for the Kings.
The scores:
First Game
TALK ‘N TEXT 99—Canaleta 25, Harris 24, Castro 16, De Ocampo 14, Williams 7, Fonacier 4, Alapag 3, Reyes Ryan 2, Baclao 2, Carey 2, Aban 0, Reyes Jai 0, Espiritu 0.
BARAKO 84—Durham 25, Jensen 17, Miranda 12, Pennisi 11, Fortuna 6, Wilson 5, Miller 4, Marcelo 4, Deutchman 0, Intal 0.
Quarters: 16-17, 41-43, 73-65, 99-84