Talk ’N Text stings Shopinas.com, gears up for tough road ahead

MANILA, Philippines—Talk ’N Text showed no distraction as it collared its fifth straight win with a 96-83 repulse of Shopinas.com Wednesday in the 2011 PBA Philippine Cup.

Even with four players in injury bay, the Texters still looked the menacing team they have always been and never allowed the Clickers gain steam in the game.

“The key in this game was not to take them lightly and not take them for granted,” said Talk ’N Text head coach Chot Reyes.

But after the winless Clickers, it gets tougher for the Tropang Texters as they face one of this conference’s strongest opponents Rain or Shine Saturday and Ginebra San Miguel and Petron in the coming weeks.

Talk ‘N Text, now at helm with an 8-1 card, pulled away in the second half and torched Shopinas.com, which still seeks its first victory in franchise history, by as big as 27 points.

Jayson Castro carried most of the cudgels with 17 points, which went along with five rebounds and four assists, but he had ample help from lanky center Japeth Aguilar, Ranidel De Ocampo and Harvey Carey.

Aguilar chipped in an overall game with 16 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 blocks while De Ocampo and Carey added 10 points each.

The Clickers tried to keep within distance in the first quarter, but could not keep up with the Texters’ depth.

Jojo Duncil led Shopinas.com with 16 points while Elmer Espiritu and Paul Escobal scored 13 points apiece.

THE SCORES:

TALK ’N TEXT, 96 – Castro, 17; Aguilar, 16; De Ocampo, 10; Carey, 10; Dillinger,
8; Williams, 8; Gamalinda, 6; Oreta, 5; Raymundo, 4; Weinstein, 4; Fonacier, 4; Membrere, 2; Lao, 2.

SHOPINAS. COM, 83 – Duncil, 16; Espiritu, 13; Escobal, 13; Jazul, 7; Sena, 6; Menor, 6; Hubalde, 5; Sison, 4; Aquino, 4;, Ritualo, 4; Daa, 3; Mirza, 2; Canlas 0.

QUARTERS:
19-17, 51-32, 76-52, 96-83