MANILA: Talk ’N Text coach Chot Reyes said it best after the game.
Barangay Ginebra later on made his wishes come true.
“Merry Christmas,” Reyes exclaimed inside the pressroom, moments after Ranidel de Ocampo drained a buzzer-beating jumper that lifted the Tropang Texters to a 109-108 victory over Air21 in the Philippine Cup eliminations on Saturday night at the Araneta Coliseum. The Gin Kings made it truly merry for the Texters later on, when they pounded a hapless Rain or Shine crew silly on the way to a 63-58 victory in the second game, which not only sealed Talk ‘N Text’s semifinal appearance, but also the Gin Kings’ outright playoff spot.
Talk ‘N Text got its part of the job done against the Express and got the lift it needed when the Kings led by as many as 20 points and quashed the Elasto Painters’ hopes of forging a playoff with the Texters for the second semifinal seat. The Texters were truly blessed last night, with Reyes confirming it so.
Talk ’N Text, which traded for De Ocampo last week and gave up Don Allado a future Draft rights, found itself trailing, 108-107, heading into the final 2.1 seconds after Gary David split his free throws off a foul by rookie Jason Castro. Talk ’N Text closed out its elimination round campaign with an 11-7 record, second only to Alaska’s 12-6 mark, as both squads got much deserved breaks and could truly enjoy the holidays. Talk ’N Text trailed by as many as 15 points late in the third period, 90-75, and the Express were still able to play with complete command early in the fourth before things fell in place for the Texters.
Harvey Carey scored 11 points in the fourth period, Castro had seven and De Ocampo and Jimmy Alapag tossed in had five each as the Texters scored 32 points in the payoff frame to erase a 13-point deficit that stared them in the face entering the period. The loss was bitter for the Express to swallow, since it came with the fifth buzzer-beater of the tournament and one which they could have avoided had they played it smart in the final period.
Meanwhile, Ginebra wasn’t as sharp as it used to be, but the Gin Kings were able to hold the Painters to just seven points in the second quarter and to only 21 in the first half which proved key to the rout.
Ginebra advanced to the quarterfinals outright with its 10-8 record, which actually tied defending champion Sta. Lucia and the Painters for third place. But the Kings got No. 3 ranking by virtue of a superior quotient and will await the winner of the wildcard.
Eric Menk led the Kings with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
