Texters extinguish Energy, 122-106

Games Tuesday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:15 p.m. – Globalport vs San Miguel Beer

7 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs NLEX

MANILA, Philippines – Talk n Text blasted Barako Bull with a heads-up performance coming from an upset loss, fashioning out a dominant 122-106 win to stay right behind the leaders nearing the homestretch of the PBA Philippine Cup elimination stage at the Alonte Sports Center in Binan, Laguna Sunday night.

Four days after a being jolted by the Globaport Batang Pier, 97-105, the Tropang Texters came back with an amazing stand on both ends of the court, chalking up a fifth win against three losses.

Averaging only 91.8 points game, the Tropang Texters put in almost half of their norm just in the opening quarter in an explosive start leading to a league season-high output marked by a whopping 18-of-38 three-pointers.

“Everything started on our defense. Coach Jong (Uichico) instilled in our minds we have to play defense,” said Jason Castro, a lead light for Talk n Text in this game, firing four triples and a game-high 26 points.

Jimmy Alapag, Larry Fonacier, Ranidel de Ocampo and Aaron Aban delivered double-digit outputs in relief jobs as Talk n Text utterly outclassed Barako Bull, handing the Energy a sixth loss in eight games.

Alapag also tossed in four treys and finished with 14 markers, four assists and two steals while Fonacier, De Ocampo and Aban combined for five three-pointers and a total of 36 points.

In their strongest start in a game this season, the Texters pummeled the Energy, 40-20, in the opening canto and were hardly threatened the rest of the way.

The Energy were down on their knees at the half, trailing by 25 at 73-48.

Making only five treys and muffing 13 free throws, the Energy ran into a wall following back-to-back wins over the Kia Sorento and the Alaska Milk Aces.

Nonetheless, Barako automatically advances to the post-elims play if the Energy beat the Blackwater Elite in a key game at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo Wednesday.

Hitting at a 50.6 percent clip overall, the Texters put in their largest output in the season since a 103-81 victory over NLEX last Oct. 24.

The Texters reasserted their supremacy of the Energy whom they have now beaten in all but one of their last 11 matches.