Texters rain triples, halt Energy’s streak

Game Saturday (Dipolog City)

5 p.m. – Purefoods vs Rain or Shine

Games Sunday (MOA Arena)

3 p.m. – Globalport vs Meralco

5:15 p.m. – Ginebra vs Talk n Text

MANILA, Philippines – Talk n Text banked on its outside gunners to buck Sol Alabi’s dominant presence at the paint as the Tropang Texters stopped the Barako Bull Energy’s unbeaten run, pulling off an 80-75 win to move up to joint third place in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.

Jayson Castro, Larry Fonacier, Willie Miller and Ranidel de Ocampo combined for 11-of-26 3-pointers, negating Alabi’s 21-point and 23-rebound performance as the Texters bounced back from a loss to the Meralco Bolts the last time out and caught up with the Energy at 3-1.

Meanwhile, Purefoods shoots for a fifth straight win while Rain or Shine guns for a third victory against two losses as they slug it out in a Petron Blaze Saturday Special at 5 p.m. Saturday in Dipolog City.

Castro, Fonacier, Miller, De Ocampo and Matt Rosser all put in double-digit outputs while Richard Howell did his job in collecting 18 rebounds on top of 11 markers.

Still, Talk n Text coach Jong Uichico expressed some concerns, ruing their meager 33-point production in the second half.

“We still have a lot to get better. We had a good first half but I don’t think we had a good second half. We’re up 47-37 at the half, and…..,” said Uichico, implying it should have been a rout already for his team.

“They just missed some shots in the end and we escaped with the win,” Uichico pointed out.

Down by four at 75-79 with 1:04 left to play, Barako Bull bungled three chances to make it a one-possession game on missed layups by JC Intal and RR Garcia.

The Texters sealed their third win after earlier victories over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Blackwater Elite on a charity by Rosser with nine ticks to go.

After squandering their 10-point halftime lead, the Texters leaned on timely three-pointers by Fonacier and Castro to keep their head above water.

But Uichico insisted he’s not satisfied.

“We’ve got to improve on both ends. We’ve got to find a way to get more points on the board,” said Uichico.

Uichico, however, would not call Howell’s attention for making measly 11 points.

“He plays hard, he’s very coachable and he’s delivering the way we’re using him,” said Uichico. “He gives us decent numbers. He made just 11 (against Barako) as we’re not going to him.”

The one-time PBA Best Import awardee took only eight field-goal attempts and made five as the Texters went to their outside shooters in an effort to open up Barako Bull’s interior defense.

Castro topscored with 16 points with four treys while De Ocampo added three triples and Fonacier and Miller two apiece.