Rice-led Texters smother Elite

MANILA, Philippines -  Glen Rice Jr. continued to dish out big games as TNT KaTropa rolled past Blackwater, 117-96, last night to bolster its quarterfinal bid in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the MOA Arena in Pasay.

Rice, fighting for the spot with first import Michael Craig Jr., unloaded 31 points and a conference-best seven steals on top of six rebounds, four assists and one block to power the Texters to their second straight win and fourth overall against two losses.

So impressive was Rice that the former 6-6 Washington Wizards guard did it in just 31 minutes and three quarters.

Barangay Ginebra overpowered Phoenix, 105-92, to join Meralco at the helm at 5-1 later in the night.

The Gin Kings pulled away in the pivotal third with import Justin Brownlee and the slam-dunking Japeth Aguilar combining as the crowd favorites turned a 53-50 halftime edge to an 85-68 bulge heading to the last 12 minutes of the contest.

The Fuel Masters fell to their seventh straight defeat after back-to-back wins.

Meanwhile, two-time NBA champion Ray Allen watched the game, and when it was interrupted midway in the second quarter due to audio malfunction, the former Miami Heat had a brief chat with Blackwater’s Henry Walker, who was a former teammate at the Boston Celtics from 2008-2010.

After a forgettable debut, Rice rebounded with a 38-point, nine-rebound, five-assist effort in their 110-103 romp over the Phoenix the Fuel Masters last Friday. He also made three steals and two shot blocks, virtually securing his spot with Craig, who normed 18.5 points, 15.5 rebounds and eight assists in three games, still waiting in the wings.

“I can’t say it’s only because of the results of the game, I don’t want to base it on that because it’s a day-to-day decision,” said TNT coach Nash Racela.

What is certain is Rice will still be TNT’s reinforcement when it takes on GlobalPort at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City tomorrow.

“Slowly, he’s getting the feel of the league, how we play, the officiating, the physicality. As long as he continues to understand that and make adjustment, we’ll be okay. Today (yesterday), he was in control of himself at least emotionally,” said Racela of Rice.

“He will play in our next game,” he added.

The win was also TNT’s nine straight against Blackwater since the latter joined the league three seasons ago.

Blackwater slid to 3-4.

It also snapped the Elite’s franchise-best three-game win streak.

Rice and Moala Tautuaa combined in a series of second quarter runs as the Texters broke away from a tight 28-25 count to a huge 62-40 lead at the break with Rice scoring 12 points.

TNT actually raced to a 20-8 bulge on a Ryan Reyes triple with 7.16 left in the opening quarter. But the Elite countered with their own 17-6 binge anchored on JP Erram’s triple and a basket to pull within 25-26.