Talk ‘N Text defense keys win over Petron Blaze

Despite all the success that the squad is reaping, Talk ‘N Text coach Norman Black was candid enough to say that he is still seeking what the new identity of the Tropang Texters would be.
“I have been asking my players if we could be a good defensive team,” Black told reporters moments after his defending champion Texters put the clamps on Petron Blaze in the latter half of the fourth period for a 95-82 PBA Philippine Cup win at the Araneta Coliseum last night.
“I am really happy with the way we played defense in the second half,” the multi-titled Black, who made his PBA comeback this season, said after holding the high-profile Boosters to just two points inside the final 5:49.
“The players are starting to buy into the fact that I want them to become a good defensive team,” Black continued. “I’m trying to find an identity for my team.”
Petron was not the first powerhouse side that the Texters methodically tore down in the last two weeks. Talk ‘N Text also scored a 92-63 destruction of San Mig Coffee, and those two routs guaranteed Black and his wards top seeding going into the playoffs.
With an 11-2 record and one game to go, the Texters will have the lightest assignment — and a twice-to-beat privilege — in the quarterfinals, leaving the Mixers and Rain or Shine to slug it out for No. 2.
San Mig can still reach 11 wins, but that 29-point loss makes it practically impossible for the Mixers to grab top spot from the Texters.
Jason Castro scored 23 points and kept the Texters in the game for most part, before Jimmy Alapag and Ryan Reyes each hit a triple to give Talk ‘N Text an 86-80 lead.
Alex Cabagnot hit two free throws with 5:49 remaining to tie the count for the last time at 80, and the Boosters would never recover from the Talk ‘N Text blitzkrieg, with their next — and last basket — coming with 3:19 remaining which made it 82-88.
Castro also had eight points and five assists and four others tossed in 10 or more for Black, who could help write history for Talk ‘N Text with another championship run this season.
No squad has won this tournament three straight years ever since defunct Crispa pulled off the feat in 1982. The previous two titles by the Texters came with Chot Reyes, now the national team coach, at the helm.
The Texters, despite the 6-foot-9 rookie June Mar Fajardo manning the slot for the Boosters, ripped Petron in the battle off the boards, 53-35, with Kelly Williams snaring nine rebounds and Ranidel de Ocampo, Jared Dillinger and Larry Fonacier plucking down seven each.
Petron dropped to 6-7 with its first loss in four games and the Boosters remained on the bubble as far as the playoffs are concerned.
The Boosters would need to win their remaining game in order to not be in danger of falling into seventh or eighth spot and be forced to win two straight games against either No. 1 or No. 2 in the quarterfinals.
Finishing third to sixth would put a squad in a best-of-three series, and that is where Alaska is right now after the Aces outsteadied Meralco, 88-85, in the first game.
Rookie Calvin Abueva made a triumphant return to the Alaska roster, churning out career highs with 20 points and 18 rebounds to key Alaska’s sixth win in 12 games.
Cyrus Baguio finished with 19 and Sonny Thoss and Mac Baracael added 12 apiece as the Aces snapped a four-game losing streak and caught the Bolts at fifth place in the standings.