PBA: Talk N’ Text rips San Miguel, gets tie for first place

Ivan Johnson of Talk N Text (light) vs Az Reid of San Miguel (dark). PBA Images/Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines —Joining Purefoods atop the PBA Commissioner’s Cup standings is Talk N’ Text after it shattered San Miguel, 113-93, Wednesday evening at Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

With the win, Talk N’ Text tied Purefoods atop the standings with a 7-3 record.

It was still a contest at the start of the third quarter with the Texters holding on to a 56-48 lead.

But Talk N’ Text went on a 20-8 rally to take an 18-point lead, 76-58, that ultimately turned the momentum away from the Beermen.

Texters head coach Jong Uichico said his players willingness to win propelled them even after that triple-overtime loss to Purefoods.

“It’s good we got the same effort from the players on Saturday, though we lost the game,” Uichico said. “That willingness to win, that’s good.”

“It’s good that it was carried over to this game.”

A scary moment happened in the third quarter, with 5:43 left and the Texters leading 76-58, when Arwind Santos’ mother Arceli was rushed to the hospital after suffering from a bleeding nose.

Santos had to leave the game to tend to her mother who was rushed to World City Medical Center in Cubao.

READ: PBA: Talk N’ Text rips San Miguel, gets tie for first place

Talk N’ Text erected a massive 29-point lead, 102-73, midway through the fourth as San Miguel, who is in danger of falling out of the playoffs, looked for answers.

All they had were unanswered questions.

Ivan Johnson had a monstrous game for the Texters with 41 points, 19 rebounds and five steals while Matt Ganuelas-Rosser had 22 points.

Import AZ Reid led San Miguel with 32 points and 18 rebounds but shot 13-of-30 from the field and 3-of-13 from deep.

MVP Junemar Fajardo had 20 points and six rebounds for the 3-7 Beermen.