Jason Castro vs Sol Mercado. PBA/Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines — Talk N’ Text ended the third quarter in a high note and pulled away for good for a 109-98 victory over Meralco Friday in the 2012 PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Coach Norman Black called it the best offensive game of the year — and for good reason.
Six Texters finished in double figures, underscored by a stellar offensive night for Kelly Williams who churned out 19 points.
Williams also had six rebounds on a night he just missed five of his 12 attempts from the field.
Jason Castro, who first gave Talk N’ Text a double digit edge with 4:55 to go, topscored with 23 points while Ranidel De Ocampo and Ryan Reyes combined for 28 markers.
“This is a big win for us. We did a good job spacing the floor,” said Black, who still hasn’t lost back-to-back games in quite a while as a head coach.
The Texters kept their hold of the top spot with an 8-2 card, which has aways been the squad’s goal.
“We are aiming for the top two slots, San Mig is on our heels, so we need to get as many wins as we can,” added Black.
After Reyes beat the third quarter buzzer with a long runner to give them a 79-76 lead, the Texters kept on working to force the Bolts to give up.
And Meralco did, with still under eight minutes to go.
Just down by 85-88 after a triple from Sol Mercado, the Bolts lost grip of the game and trailed by as 14 points.
Mercado sizzled with 28 markers after his three-point shooting picked up in the first half, along with Sunday Salvacion.
Though Mercado had ample help from Reynel Hugnatan, Cliff Hodge and Jay R Reyes — who all chipped in double digits — Mark Cardona had little impact .
Cardona only had four markers for Meralco, which has been playing inconsistenly since as of late and dropped its fourth assignment (5-4).
Click to https://sports.inquirer.net/71434/talk-n-text-stays-on-top-with-win-over-meralco for details of the game.
The scores:
TALK N’ TEXT 109 – Castro 23, Williams 19, De Ocampo 16, Reyes 12, Dillinger 11, Fonacier 10, Carey 9, Peek 8, Alapag 1, Raymundo 0, Gamalinda 0, Aban 0, Alvarez 0.
MERALCO 98 – Mercado 28, Hugnatan 17, Hodge 14, Reyes 14, Salvacion 9, Borboran 6, Cardona 4, Ross 3, Buenafe 3, Nabong 0, Bulawan 0.
Quarters: 27-25, 50-46, 79-76, 109-98