Alapag, Seigle power Texters’ win

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

3 p.m. – Ginebra vs Globalport

5:15 p.m. – Purefoods vs Rain or Shine

MANILA, Philippines - Talk n Text banked on the exploits of veteran players Jimmy Alapag and Danny Seigle in a second-quarter breakaway that the team sustained all the way through in whipping hard-luck Blackwater Elite, 90-80, to gain solo fourth place in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna last night.

Alapag drained back-to-back treys then Seigle strung up three straight field baskets, including the last one from beyond the arc, as the Texters cut loose from a close game late in the second quarter and never let up to hammer out a sixth win against three losses.

The former Philippine Cup three-peat champs can still get a crack at an outright semifinal entry with a sweep of their last two games against the Purefood Star Hotshots and the San Miguel Beermen.

Jason Castro scored in each quarter and finished with 21 points and six rebounds as Talk n Text kept Blackwater winless in 10 games.

After the fifth offering of the Petron Blaze PBA on Tour series, action shifts back to the Smart Araneta Coliseum with Rain or Shine, Purefoods, Barangay Ginebra and Globalport figuring in a critical twinbill.

The Gin Kings (5-3) and the Batang Pier (4-5) clash at 3 p.m. then the Elasto Painters (6-2) and the Hotshots (5-3) collide at 5:15 p.m.

Rain or Shine and Purefoods Star meet in a rematch of teams that squared off in two finals last season.

“Rain or Shine has always historically been a tough match-up for us. They’ve been playing very good basketball of late so our job even becomes harder,” said Purefoods coach Tim Cone.

The E-Painters pursue their bid for an outright semifinal entry while the Hotshots try to secure a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

Both have recovered from a shaky start in the tourney, and both ride the crest of a four-game streak going to their much-awaited encounter.

Rain or Shine is still very much in the running for the Top Two, but the Elasto Painters must produce good results in a killer stretch where they face the Hotshots, then the Alaska Milk Aces and the Barangay Ginebra Kings.

“We’re still on our winning run, we’ve recovered from a bad start this conference and what we want to do is end this elims with a strong finish. Maybe, we can still make a run at an outright semis,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

After splitting their first four games, the E-Painters strung up four straight wins over Barako Bull, Globalport, Meralco and NLEX.

Purefoods has recovered from a poorer start (1-3), rallying into strong contention for the Top Six with victories over NLEX, Blackwater, Meralco and Kia.

Already out of contention for the Top Two, Purefoods seeks to salvage a spot from No. 3 to No. 6 for a twice-to-beat advantage in stage one of the quarterfinals.

In the initial stage of the quarters, Teams 3-6 enjoy a “win-once” edge over Teams 7-10. The four winners then figure in a pair of knockout duels to determine the last two teams making the semis.