Talk ‘N Text edges Rain or Shine, inches closer to Finals berth

MANILA, Philippines — Talk ‘N Text remained unbeaten following a 94-87 win over Rain or Shine and to move a win away from clinching a Finals berth in the 2014 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Wednesday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Ranidel de Ocampo shot 20 points to lead four other Tropang Texter in double-digit scoring. Jayson Castro added 19 points while Kelly Williams had 14 points and 13 rebounds.

The Elasto Painters lost Wayne Chism to an injury midway through the second period but they still remained in striking distance before de Ocampo, Williams and Jimmy Alapag carried the Texters out of harm’s way.

“It’s not always that easy to beat a team playing all Filipino especially if they’re still fighting and they still have a lot of heart which what happened with Rain or Shine today,” TNT head coach Norman Black told reporters after his squad stretched its winning run to 12.

“But we gutted one out. We won the game that’s what’s important right now. We’re one win away from making it back to the championship and that’s really our focus. We try to finish this on Friday,” Black added.

With the game still up-for-grabs, Alapag set Williams beautifully on a pick-and-roll that gave TNT  a 91-85 edge with only 1:17 remaining.

Beau Belga scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Painters, who are a loss away from getting swept by the Tropang Texters again after they got blanked in last year’s Philippine Cup Finals.

Chism played just 14 minutes and scored 10 points to go along with seven rebounds before hurting his left knee.

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