TALK 'N TEXT TOPS ELIMS, BOOKS FINAL 4 SEAT

Source: pba.ph

The Talk n Text Tropang Texters kept their dominating performance in the Philippine Basketball

Association, repulsing the Petron Blaze Boosters, 107-80, Wednesday to secure elimination-round top

honors for the fifth time in the last six conferences.

The Texters left nothing to chance, pummeling the Boosters for a league-best 7-2 win-loss record in

the 2012 PBA Commissioner’s Cup elim plays.

Thus, the reigning champs gained automatic passage into the semifinals, leaving Barangay Ginebra and

B-Meg to dispute the other outright semis berth in a playoff Friday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Before a good Wednesday crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the Texters dished out their usual

steady game, making it four in a row versus the Boosters in their head-on duels dating back to the

Philippine Cup finals.

“It was intense, and it was important for us to pull through. What made it possible was our win in

Cebu when I wasn’t around,” said Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes, paying tribute to his deputies

who held the fort for their team in their game versus Rain or Shine in Lapu-Lapu City Saturday.

The Boosters lost their last four outings, sending them to a poor 3-6 wind-up – tied with the Rain

or Shine Elasto Painters and the Air21 Express in the bottom.

Petron went 0-2 with Will McDonald and, like last year, failed to advance to the Commissioner’s

Cup playoffs.

Injuries to Jay Washington, Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Dondon Hontiveros and Chris Lutz obviously took its

toll on Petron.

“Petron is really a strong team just caught by bad breaks this conference,” said Reyes.

Talk n Text simply outclassed Petron with the Texters imposing their game, outscoring the Boosters,

16-6, on fastbreaks and, 20-12, on second-chance points.

Jason Castro topscored for the Texters with 19 points while playing off the bench.

Jared Dillinger, Donnell Harvey, Jimmy Alapag and Kelly Williams added at least 10 points each for

the Texters who, with their early semis entry, will get at least a 10-day rest.

“The thing for us now is to how make good use of the break. Of course, the idea is how to stay

sharp,” said Reyes.

The Texters were sharp almost all elims long, losing only their game versus the Barangay Ginebra

Kings and the Air21 Express. (SB)

The scores:

TALK N' TEXT 107 - Castro 19, Dillinger 16, Harvey 15, Alapag 11, Williams 10, Aguilar 9, Reyes 7,

Fonacier 6, Carey 6, De Ocampo 5, Gamalinda 3, Raymundo 0.

PETRON 80 - Mc Donald 20, Santos 16, Yeo 11, Miranda 11, Ildefonso 6, Guevarra 4, Tugade 4,

Al-Hussaini 2, Reyes 2, Lanete 2, Cabagnot 2, Rizada 0.

Quarters: 26-21, 49-39, 82-63, 107-80