TALK ‘N Text forward Kelly Williams puts up a reverse layup off KIA’s JR Cawaling in yesterday’s game at Smart Araneta Coliseum. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Talk ‘N Text broke away from KIA early and then held off the enemy the rest of the way to post a 94-85 victory that gave the Tropang Texters at least a tie for the last quarterfinal berth in the PBA Governors’ Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Tropang Texters built leads of as big as 28 points and then played heads-up when the Carnival mounted a last-gasp stand as they closed out their elimination-round schedule with a 5-6 card.
Jason Castro scored 19 points and led four others in twin digits for the Texters, who decided to continue to play Steffphon Pettigrew and keep Dominique Sutton on the reserve for the moment.
The Talk ‘N Text defense kept towering KIA import Hamady N’Diyae out of his sweet spot the entire night, allowing the 7-foot-1 Senegalese to score just nine points that went with 13 rebounds.
N’Diyae came into the game fresh off a 31-point, 21-rebound, eight-block performance in a losing effort against Rain or Shine. His failure to duplicate those numbers contributed to the Carnival’s third straight loss in a 4-6 card.
But the Texters’ fortunes don’t entirely rest on their hands, as they can still be booted out of the playoffs if they fall into a tie for the remaining quarterfinal berths.
“Wait and see, that’s all we can do right now,” Talk ‘N Text coach Jong Uichico said after the win that also put the Carnival’s playoff aspirations hanging in the balance. “We have to be as positive as we can.”
San Miguel Beer, Alaska, Rain or Shine, Barako Bull and Globalport have already filled in five spots, with Meralco—like the Texters— already assured of at least a tie for a playoff berth.
Defending champion Star, KIA and Barangay Ginebra could also wind up tied with the Bolts and Texters with at least five wins at the close of the preliminaries on Wednesday.
To break the ties and determine which teams will advance, the quotient system will be applied.
Meralco and Star could avoid complications by winning their last two games. In that case, only one slot will be left available for teams that will win five games.
If KIA and Ginebra lose their remaining games, then Talk ‘N Text will advance without a hitch.
San Miguel Beer and Alaska, incidentally, will dispute the No. 1 seeding in a Petron Saturday Special game slated in Panabo City in Davao del Norte.
The scores:
First Game
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