Talk ‘N text faces Ginebra, targets Finals slot

MANILA—Talk ‘N Text guns for the first Finals slot Sunday against the very team trying to beat the Tropang Texters to it—Barangay Ginebra—as semifnal action in the PBA Governors’ Cup enters its homestretch at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

Game time is 7:30 p.m. with both squads coming off impressive victories that made them 1-2 in the standings.

The Texters and the crowd-favorite Gin Kings are 2-1 in the round and a Ginebra victory would forge a two-way tie for the lead going into the final week of the semis.

Alaska, the side that the Kings edged out Friday night, fights for dear life against ousted B-Meg at 5:30 p.m., with the Aces hoping to fan whatever little flame there is left in their aspirations to make the title series and defend their championship.

Ginebra could be considered as the hottest team in the tournament right now. The Kings could easily be at 3-0 for the round had it not been for a squandered 28-point lead against sister team Petron Blaze last Wednesday that resulted in an 88-96 overtime loss.

The Kings came back from that defeat with that 81-77 decision of the Aces and Donald Sloan has been playing with Best Import-like numbers to give Ginebra an equal chance against the rock-solid, Grand Slam-seeking Texters tonight.

Sloan is proving to be a worthy replacement for the injured Curtis Stinson while Scottie Reynolds is expected to lead the Texters after shooting 37 points against the Llamados on Friday.

Mark Caguioa, former MVP Jay-Jay Helterbrand, JC Intal and Ronald Tubid will be the main locals for the Kings, who are trying to win this tournament for the second time in three years after the 7-foot Chris Alexander led them to the title two seasons ago.

Talk ’N Text’s locals led by Jason Castro and Jimmy Alapag will again see major minutes for the Texters.

Meanwhile, a loss boots Alaska out and even if the Aces win, they don’t entirely hold their fate in their hands since winning their last two games could eventually leave them out of the No. 2 position.

The Llamados will be playing for nothing more but pride.