Talk ‘N Text shuts down Chan, Painters to stay unbeaten

With its offense still not running in full gear because of a big change in the system it now plays in, Talk ‘N Text notched a sixth straight win last night by shutting down one of the more prolific scorers in the PBA Philippine Cup.
The defending champion Tropang Texters, minus their best player, nipped Rain or Shine, 80-77, by holding the Elasto Painters to just four points in the last five minutes and main gunner Jeff Chan to four markers in Victorias City, Negros Occidental.
Talk ‘N Text played catch-up for most of the night, and Jimmy Alapag nailed the go-ahead triple with 3:12 remaining for 74-73 as the Texters remained undefeated even with Jason Castro out because of a broken finger.
“We played good defense on Jeff Chan,” a beaming Norman Black told reporters after Chan, who owns the season-high mark of 35 points, was held without a triple in six attempts, made just two free throws and 1-of-8 from two-point zone.
The loss was the first in four games and second overall in six outings for the Elasto Painters, the reigning Governors’ Cup champions who last week came back from 16 points down at the start the fourth quarter to nip powerhouse San Mig Coffee.
Ranidel de Ocampo had 13 points, and Larry Fonacier contributed 12 as Alapag led all Talk ‘N Text shooters with 15 in a vintage performance that plugged the holes that Castro left behind.
“The (team) doctors just put a cast (on Castro’s finger) to hasten the healing,” Black, who has implemented a more deliberate style of offense compared to the run-and-gun mentality the Texters had under Chot Reyes, added.
“Hopefully, he (Castro) can play in our next game.” The Texters remained as the only unbeaten team in the tournament even as Alaska on Friday rolled to a third straight win by ripping Air21 even with Cyrus Baguio suffering a scary knee injury early in the fourth period.
Baguio, the Aces’ leading scorer, had to be carried out with still over nine minutes left in a 92-81 victory after getting entangled with teammate JV Casio and hyper-extending his right knee.
The high-flying slasher out of collegiate power Santo Tomas in the UAAP was rushed to the hospital after the game for a series of tests, including an MRI that eventually revealed no damaged ligaments.
Baguio, who still finished with 15 points on Friday, has been given clearance to play as the Aces battle crowd-darling Barangay Ginebra Sunday with Alaska seeking a fourth straight victory and a second place tie with the Painters.
Meanwhile, Petron Blaze, which is now under the full command of former star point guard Olsen Racela, notched its first winning streak of the tournament also on Friday after posting a 110-98 decision of newcomer Global port.
Racela was given free reins of the squad vice Serbian consultant Rajko Toroman, something which team manager Hector Calma said was entirely a decision of management that came two days before the game.
Coming into the contest with the Batang Pier, Petron Blaze was at 2-3 with Racela and Toroman sharing everything as far as game decisions go.