MANILA: Talk ‘N Text grabbed a headstart over Barangay Ginebra in a big way.
The defending champion Tropang Texters used a hot second quarter to build leads of as many as 22 points Friday night before going on to post a 107-92 victory over the crowd-darling Gin Kings for a 1-0 lead in their best-of-five PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinal series at the Araneta Coliseum.
More than taking that one-game advantage, the Texters have obviously put a dent on the collective psyches of the Kings, whose loyal legion of fans were silenced for most of the night by great play on both ends by Talk ‘N Text.
“I’m satisfied but not content,” Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes told reporters. “We still need to get two more (victories to win the series). We just have to be calm and keep our poise because Ginebra can always come back.”
Sophomore point guard Jason Castro and the diminutive Jimmy Alapag took turns in hurting the Kings, who missed reigning MVP Jay-Jay Helterbrand because of a pinched nerve in the left leg, and only got to use Mark Caguioa for a few minutes.
Castro also had seven rebounds, four steals and the same number of assists and combined perfectly with Alapag to outplay the entire Ginebra backcourt made up of Celino Cruz, Kevin White and the veteran Johnny Abarrientos.
Alapag finished with 19 markers, while Harvey Carey and Mac Cardona had 13 and 12 respectively as the Texters can take a commanding 2-0 lead Sunday also at the Big Dome in Cubao.
“We came (into the game) with the intent of stopping their wingmen,” Reyes added. “We knew that if we could stop either (JC) Intal, (Ronald (Tubid) or (Cyrus) Baguio, we would have a great chance of winning this game.”
It was Tubid that got choked by the swarming Talk ‘N Text defense as he was held down to just two points, a far cry from his elimination round average of almost 20 per contest.
Intal, the former Ateneo ace who is enjoying the minutes because of the injury to Helterbrand, went on to lead the Kings with 19, while Baguio struggled to drop 12 markers.
Enrico Villanueva had 16 points and 12 rebounds for Ginebra, which also saw old hand Eric Menk struggle to contribute just two markers.
Also taking a 1-0 lead was Purefoods, which engaged Rain or Shine in an old-fashioned shootout to prevail, 90-85.
James Yap scored 20 points in the first half and finished with 31, while Roger Yap churned out 17 aside from helping shut down Solomon Mercado somewhat and contribute hugely to the victory.
Mercado, after superlative offensive performances in Rain or Shine’s last four games, shot 17 points all right, but was denied the ball during the times when the Elasto Painters were trying to make a serious dent on several commanding leads of the Tender Juicy Giants.
“We expected a tough game, especially with momentum on their side,” said Purefoods coac Ryan Gregorio. “But I told the players that in the end, it’s still our defense that will bail us out. True enough, we got key steals, key stops and crucial free throws.”
Roger Yap, who also got on the skin of Mercado several times, hit seven straight points in a critical fourth-quarter run, highlighting it with a triple with 4:34 left that pushed the Giants ahead, 82-78, after Purefoods had trailed by three, 73-76, early in the fourth.
Mercado, the stocky guard, came into the game after a 27-point effort against Coca-Cola in a knockout match and a career-high 35 markers against Alaska in Rain or Shine’s final elimination round game.
“It wasn’t just Roger who was our first line of defense [against Mercado], but it was our team defense really that stymied the offensive options of Sol Mercado,” said Gregorio.
The winner in the Purefoods-Rain or Shine series will go up against No. 2 San Miguel Beermen, who claimed an automatic semifinal slot along with the top-seeded Alaska Aces.
Whoever comes out on top of the Talk ‘N Text - Ginebra matchup will advance to clash with the Aces. Both series will be best-of-seven affairs like the Finals.
Kerby Raymundo posted 12 points and 11 boards for the Giants, while rookie Rico Maierhofer added nine markers.
