TnT secures playoff slot

Games tomorrow (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:15 p.m. – Alaska vs Kia

7 p.m. – Barako Bull vs San Miguel

MANILA, Philippines - Driven by its desire to rebound from a shock loss to Kia the last time out and atone for its first ever defeat at the hands of Globalport last conference, the Talk n Text Tropang Texters got back at the Batang Pier, 96-88, and secured an outright playoff berth in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Ivan Johnson came through with 35 points and 20 rebounds while Ranidel de Ocampo contributed 25 markers, five boards and three assists as the Texters avenged their 97-105 loss to the Batang Pier in the Philippine Cup and, in the process, grabbed the solo lead in the mid-season tourney with a 6-2 win-loss card.

The Batang Pier dropped to 4-4 after suffering a first loss in their last three games.

“Our loss to Globalport last conference, more than our last game against Kia, gave us the extra motivation to win this game,” said coach Jong Uichico, recalling the night when his troops were torched by Terrence Romeo with his fiery 30-point game.

It was Talk n Text’s first loss in eight head-on matches with the Mikee Romero-owned ball club.

“We came in really focused and we got a good win going to the All-Star break,” said Uichico.

“We’re not playing until March 14 against Purefoods, and we can work on something during the break,” Uichico also said, adding they’re pursuing a Top Two finish for a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

“We hope to keep on winning, but we have three tough games ahead of us,” said Uichico referring to their tiffs versus Purefoods, San Miguel Beer and Alaska Milk.

Heading to the homestretch of the elims, the Texters got back on the winning track with a solid job on both ends – their effort on defense netting 17 Globalport turnovers that they converted to 22 points.

The Texters handled their offensive patterns well, committing just four errors.

Johnson and his teammates made a big turnaround from their scrambling performance against the Kia Carnival, steadiest versus the Batang Pier in the payoff period where they led, 96-83.

“(We missed doing) a little adjustment here and there against Kia. Tonight, we did a pretty good job defensively that we translated into offense,” said Uichico.

Though playing with just one healthy knee, James Yap seized the moment in overtime, helping Purefoods Star snap a three-game losing skein with a 113-105 win over slumping Philippine Cup champion San Miguel Beer in the nightcap.

Back from a two-game layoff, Yap scored eight of his 15 points in the extra period as the Hotshots recovered after blowing away a 17-point spread in the fourth quarter, moving up to solo fourth place with a 5-3 card.

San Miguel slid deeper down the cellar at 1-6.