Texters, Kings seek key wins

TALK ‘N Text court general Jimmy Alapag (right) tries to stop a driving Mac Cardona of Meralco in a recent game. August dela Cruz

Talk ‘N Text tries to avoid going through the complications of a playoff when the Tropang Texters seek top seeding in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup today against out-of-it-all Petron Blaze at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. with the defending champions shooting for the No. 1 spot for the fifth time in the last six conferences, even as Barangay Ginebra guns for a playoff for the second twice-to-beat privilege against also-ran Air21 at 5:15.

Talk ‘N Text actually has two chances of bagging the No. 1 spot—the first if Ginebra loses in the first game.

A win by Air21 would render the second game no-bearing with the Texters grabbing top seeding even with a loss because of the winner-over-the-other rule against B-Meg.

In that case, Talk ‘N Text and the Llamados would end up with 6-3 records.

A three-way tie for No. 1 ensues, though, if Ginebra wins and Talk ‘N Text loses, with both teams ending up with 6-3 marks like B-Meg.

In that scenario, the Llamados will claim top seeding with the highest quotient, leaving Texters and the Kings to fight it out for No. 2—the second outright Final Four slot—in a playoff.

As for the Express, a win would leave them no better than eighth spot. A Petron victory over Talk ‘N Text would push Air21 to ninth overall.

The Texters missed topping an elimination round only in the last conference, finishing second to the Llamados, who then lost two straight games and were eliminated by the Powerade Tigers in the quarterfinals.

“It’s a huge game as we’re attempting to grab the No. 1 seed. I’m sure the SMC (San Miguel Corp.) group is hell bent on denying us,” Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes told reporters yesterday.

“Petron will go all out to help its sister teams, and rightly so. We must play our best to have a chance.”

The Boosters were booted out last week when Ginebra—one of its sister teams, the other being the Llamados—downed Barako Bull, 91-81. Even a win tonight would give them an eighth-place finish, out of the playoff picture.