Talk ‘N Text keeps playoffs hopes alive, survives Kia

Photo by Tristan Rafael Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Talk ‘N Text remained in the playoff picture as it trumped Kia, 94-85, moving up to seventh place in the PBA Governor’s Cup on Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Finishing the eliminations with a 5-6 win-loss record, the Texters are momentarily in the safe zone and can be assured of a playoffs spot if Star, Kia and Ginebra lose their remaining games.

Talk ‘N Text squandered a 28-point lead, 51-23, when the Carnival cut it to four, 69-65, in the third quarter behind the play of Karl Dehesa and Hamady N’Diaye.

Texters head coach Jong Uichico was unhappy with his team’s lax play when Kia stormed right back as his team lost steam on both ends of the floor.

“Complacent? Maybe, it’s the only reason,” Uichico said. “It’s not like Kia changed their game in the third quarter. We lost discipline on both defense and offense.”

A 16-4 run in the fourth put everything back to normalcy as Kelly Williams hit back-to-back triples that sparked the Texters to an 86-69 lead early in the quarter.

Kia trimmed the lead to seven, 89-82, with a 6-0 run late in the final period but time was not on their side.

Talk ‘N Text relied on a well-balanced offense with five players finishing in double-figures.

Jayson Castro led the team with 19 points while Williams and Ranidel de Ocampo each had 14 points.

Imports Steffphon Pettigrew and Sam Daghles added 11 points apiece for the Texters.

Dehesa led the 4-6 Carnival with 19 points while Asian import Jeff Chang had 17.

The scores:

TALK N’ TEXT 94—Castro 19, Williams 14, De Ocampo 14, Daghles 11, Pettigrew 11, Fonacier 7, Rosser 7, Washington 5, Aban 3, Seigle 2, Reyes R. 1, Carey 0

KIA 85—Dehesa 19, Chang 17, N’Diaye 9, Deutchman 8, Webb 8, Revilla 5, Bagatsing 5, Yee 4, Cawaling 3, Buensuceso 3, Nuyles 2, Alvarez 2, Avenido 0

Quarters: 32-17, 57-38, 70-65, 94-85