Texters batter Kings, nail last Final 4 spot

GAME TOMORROW (Mall of Asia Arena)

7 p.m.—Rain or Shine vs Alaska

TALK ‘N Text’s Jay Washington and Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar battle for the rebound in last night’s still unfinished game at the Big Dome. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Employing a defensive blanket that negated its disadvantage in size, Talk ‘N Text last night choked Barangay Ginebra to near-submission, scoring an 83-67 victory that put the Tropang Texters in the PBA Philippine Cup Final Four at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Defending, blocking and rebounding solidly, the Texters chopped down the Gin Kings’ hulking frontline to size, dictating the tempo of their knockout match the entire night to advance opposite tournament No. 1 San Miguel Beer starting Friday.

The Texters dominated action inside the paint with a total of eight blocked shots. They held the Kings to a paltry nine points in the fourth that resulted in the lopsided final score.

Talk ‘N Text coach Jong Uichico marked his return to head coaching duties by steering the Texters to the best-of-seven semifinal series against yet another tall team in the Beermen and reigning MVP June Mar Fajardo.

And the soft-spoken, multititled Uichico, whose last head coaching stint was with Ginebra, brushed aside all attempts of sidelights after bundling out his former team which he had a celebrated falling out with.

“Regardless of whether it was Ginebra or not, we needed to win this game,” Uichico said. “It’s just a game we had to win. We took some defensive gambles [and it paid off].”

Jason Castro was the premier point guard of old, shooting the bulk of his 23 points in the first three periods before holding the Texters together in the fourth when they broke away.

Ginebra fared so badly despite holding a 58-47 edge in the battle off the boards, as Talk ‘N Text was able to come up with the stops when it needed to.

The 7-foot Ginebra sophomore, Greg Slaughter, was held to just eight points and three rebounds, while the 6-foot-9 Japeth Aguilar was starved to just nine and 11.

The Final Four actually starts tomorrow with Game 1 of the Rain or Shine-Alaska series at 7 p.m. at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Meanwhile, Fajardo leads the Best Player of the Conference derby with an average of 41.2 statistical points per game (18.5 points, 12.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 11 outings).

Fajardo is averaging close to three SPs better than Alaska workhorse Calvin Abueva (17.4 points, 13 rebounds and 3.3 assists) who has an average of 38.5 points a contest.

The scores:

TALK ‘N TEXT 83—Castro 23, De Ocampo 17, Rosser 13, Alas 8, Carey 7, Reyes R.J. 6, Aban 4, Fonacier 3, Washington 2, Alapag 0, Reyes R. 0, Williams 0, Espiritu 0, Seigle 0.

GINEBRA 67—Tenorio 15, Yeo 10, Aguilar 9, Slaughter 8, Caguioa 8, Mamaril 6, Monfort 3, Reyes 3, Baracael 3, Ellis 2, Forrester 0, Urbiztondo 0, Helterbrand 0, Brondial 0.

Quarters: 25-22, 40-40, 65-58, 83-67