Texters topple Kings, stay firmly on top

MANILA, Philippines - For the second straight conference, Talk n Text is the PBA playoffs top seed.

Paul Harris anchored another strong Talk n Text windup as the Tropang Texters outfought the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 96-92, to seal top honors in the PBA PLDT Home Telpad Governors Cup elimination round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Earlier in the day, Alaska Milk topped Barako Bull, 90-87.

Victories by Talk n Text and Alaska carried Rain or Shine and San Mig Coffee to an automatic Top Four finish.

In today’s Elasto Painters-Mixers tussle, to be determined is the last team to make the Top Four and enjoy a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.

It’s either Alaska or San Miguel Beer. With inferior quotients, Barangay Ginebra and Air21 are out of it.

As the playoffs top seeds, the Texters, with a twice-to-beat advantage, play the eighth ranked Barako Bull Energy Cola in the quarterfinals.

Another sure quarters pairing is that of Rain or Shine versus Air21.

“(Being the elims topnotcher) is good. It means we’re winning basketball games. But we still have a goal to achieve and that’s winning the championship,” said Talk n Text coach Norman Black.

“We play Barako in the quarters and that’s an interesting matchup. We lost to them the last time. We have to match their intensity especially that of Allen Durham,” Black also said.

Harris came through with a crucial seven-point binge at endgame and finished with 31 points and 16 rebounds as the Texters closed out their elims stint at 7-2 while sending the Kings to a 5-4 windup.

Ranidel de Ocampo also came up with double-double numbers with 18 points and 10 rebounds, Jayson Castro contributed 18 markers, five assists and three rebounds while Larry Fonacier chipped in 12 buckets.

Jimmy Alapag returned from a one-game layoff and efficiently did the quarterbacking chores.

“Paul Harris once again came up big in the end and I love the quarterbacking of Alapag. It helped us a lot,” said Black.

“But it was a rollercoaster ride. Both teams made a lot of runs. Both teams kept losing control of the game. One would make a run to take control then other would also make a run to surge ahead,” Black also said.

Mac Baracael drained back-to-back treys to cap their last big run -- a 21-3 attack -- that put Ginebra in control, 67-53, near the end of the third period.

The Texters, however, waged a big chase right at the start of the fourth and, at 83-all, came through with a backbreaking 11-4 tear.

In frustration, Ginebra guard LA Tenorio kicked the TV5 giant LED in the sideline, causing damage to the equipment.

“For sure, he will be billed for the damage and he has to pay,” said PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial.