Jason Castro pumped in 10 of his 17 points in a decisive run in the second quarter and Japeth Aguilar had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Tropang Texters, who masterfully filled the gaps left by their injured key players.
“The key for us in this game was not to take them lightly,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes after the Tropang Texters clinched their seventh victory in eight games to retain the solo lead.
Meralco squeezed past Powerade in the second game with Mac Cardona scoring off Francis Allera in the dying seconds to seal the 98-96 win.
The Bolts picked up their sixth victory in 10 games to climb to fifth.
Scoring king Gary David produced 26 points, Doug Kramer had 17 points and 15 rebounds, and top rookie pick JV Casio finally came out of his shell with 14 for the Tigers, who absorbed a third straight defeat for a 3-6 record.
Injuries to guards Ryan Reyes (MCL) and Jimmy Alapag (foot) and forwards Aaron Aban (ACL) and Rich Alvarez (left hand) apart from the absence of Ali Peek didn’t stop TNT from tearing the Clickers apart.
Jason Castro’s three and a fastbreak ignited a crippling 14-2 run capped by a Larry Fonacier triple for a 20-point TNT cushion at the half.
The loss was the 10 straight for Shopinas.
Meanwhile, PBA Commissioner Chito Salud has approved the trade that brought forwards Rico Maierhofer and Alein Maliksi to Ginebra.
Salud, however, revised the original proposal by adding a second-round pick for B-Meg next year along with its acquisition of the 6-foot-9 Yancy De Ocampo.
The scores:
First Game
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
Second Game
MERALCO 98—Espinas 25, Cardona 18, Taulava 12, Mercado 11, Lanete 8, Borboran 7, Yee 6, Macapagal 4, Timberlake 3, Omolon 2, Hugnatan 2, Ballesteros 0, Isip 0.
POWERADE 96—David 26, Kramer 17, Casio 14, Crisano 11, Lassiter 8, Lingganay 7, Calimag 6, Adducul 4, Cruz 3, Martinez 0, Vanlandingham 0, Allera 0, Antonio 0.
Quarters: 23-17, 52-48, 79-84, 98-96