Texters, Bolts score

Ranidel De Ocampo and Harvey Carey of Talk N Text (dark) vs Yousif Taha of Purefoods (light). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines—Talk ‘N Text claimed a twice-to-beat slot and put Purefoods’ title-retention bid in peril after a 100-96 overtime victory last night in the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Ranidel de Ocampo fired 18 points and Jason Castro added 13, aside from scoring important buckets in extension, as the Tropang Texters improved to 7-3 and dealt the Star Hotshots a second straight loss.

In dropping to 5-5 overall, Purefoods would need to defeat Barako Bull in a Petron Saturday Special game before hoping that Ginebra triumphs over Rain or Shine on Sunday.

If those things don’t happen, the Hotshots will march into the quarterfinals in the bottom half and would need to beat a higher-ranked foe two straight times to make the next phase.

Jay Washington also scored 18 points for the Texters while Larry Fonacier forged the extra period with a layup with six-tenths of a second left for 88-all.

Earlier, Meralco completed the quarterfinal cast after a 99-93 win over KIA Motors.

The Bolts blew a 22-point lead and even trailed, 78-81, early in the fourth before finishing the game the way they started it—hot and composed—to rise to a level 5-5.

Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao played just his second pro game and again wasn’t a factor on the floor, winding up scoreless.

The scores:

First Game

MERALCO 99—Dillinger 25, Hodge 17, Anthony 14, Wilson 11, David 10, Macapagal 8, Morrison 4, Cortez 3, Ferriols 3, Ildefonso 2, Sena 2, Buenafe 0, Guevarra 0.

KIA 93—Cervantes 18, Poligrates 11, Revilla 10, Bagatsing 10, Thiele 9, Alvarez 8, Pascual 8, Dehesa 7, Custodio 6, Webb 4, Burtscher 3, Pacquiao 0, Buensuceso 0.

Quarters: 34-19, 60-39, 73-72, 99-93

Second Game

TALK ‘N TEXT 100—Washington 18, De Ocampo 18, Reyes 14, Castro 13, Carey 9, Alas 8, Rob Reyes 8, Alapag 5, Fonacier 4, Rosser 3, Aban 0.

PUREFOODS 96—Devance 22, Pingris 21, Yap 18, Simon 15, Barroca 11, Mallari 5, Taha 2, Maliksi 2, Reavis 0.

Quarters: 22-22, 39-42, 67-64, 88-88 (reg.), 100-96 (OT)