MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Cup titlist Talk n Text closed in on the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoff phase as it stretched its hot streak to five games with an 85-80 overtime win over Alaska Milk at the Xavier University Gym in Cagayan de Oro City last night.
The Tropang Texters bungled a won game in regulation play but caught a second wind in the extra period to seal the win that sent them to the threshold of the post-elimination round play.
Jimmy Alapag and Ryan Reyes came through with the game’s biggest plays in OT as Talk n Text repulsed Alaska to gain solo second place behind Smart Gilas (5-0) at 5-1.
Alapag tossed in two three-pointers while Reyes scored on a drive and made a key defensive stop on Cyrus Baguio to scuttle Alaska’s bid and relegate the Aces to third at 4-2.
Barangay Ginebra and Rain or Shine seek a piece of third place with Alaska in going up against separate opponents at the resumption of play at the Araneta Coliseum today.
The Kings go for a third straight win against the San Miguel Beermen at 6:30 p.m. while the Elasto Painters try to check a two-game skid in tackling the Air21 Express earlier at 4 p.m.
Talk n Text welcomed the return of Jason Castro and Jared Dillinger while Alaska Milk lost Joe De Vance to injury as early as the first quarter of the Phoenix Fuel-sponsored road game.
The two teams were engaged in a toe-to-toe battle when De Vance limped to their bench after a collision with Reyes. De Vance hurt his left knee.
Paul Harris struck with a three-point play right after De Vance’s exit, and the Texters built momentum, taking the opening quarter at 30-21.
TnT opened a double-digit spread, 36-25, on a running jumper by Kelly Williams.
and sustained the heat, carrying over a 40-32 lead to the final half.
The Texters led by as many as 14 in the third period and had looked on the way to a trouble-free windup when they cooled down at the finish.
LD Williams and LA Tenorio knocked in a triple each in the last 11 seconds, allowing the Aces to force extension play at 75-all.
Harris topscored for the Texters with 23 although missing crucial shots in the homestretch.
Williams led all scorers with 34 points despite an atrocious 9-of-18 free throws.