Texters rally past Kings, near crown

MANILA, Philippines - The Tropang Texters crept out of a 17-point hole then pounded the Barangay Ginebra Kings at the finish for a 91-84 win and a commanding 3-1 lead in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven finals at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

The all-Filipino champs take the first of three chances at the disposal at nailing a second straight crown in Game Five in the same venue tomorrow.

If ever, Talk n Text would be the first PBA team to achieve back-to-back championships since Ginebra ruled the 2004 Fiesta Conference and the Philippine Cup the following season.

Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes, however, stressed the series is not yet over.

“We need to get four (wins), and that means we still have to find a way to get back and hopefully play our best game,” said Reyes. “We’re playing a team facing a do-or-die situation, and they will be very dangerous.”

Jimmy Alapag was named Best Player of the Conference before the game, and the Texters made the night more memorable with the stirring come-from-behind triumph.

Paul Harris poured in 14 of his 26 points in the fourth period while Jason Castro added 10, leading Talk n Text’s charge from a nine-point deficit at the start of the quarter.

Trailing by as many as 17 at the start of the third, the Texters rode high on the second-half exploits of Harris and Castro as they foiled the Kings’ attempt to again force a deadlock in the series.

Making a statement after losing the Best Import award to Ginebra’s Nate Brumfield, Harris finished a double-double game with 26 points and 10 rebounds with Castro chipping in 16 points, four rebounds and two assists.

“Harris played poorly in the first half, probably with the Best Import award he lost still in mind. At halftime, I asked him ‘are you in or are you out.’ He said ‘I’m in’ and played big in the second half,” said Reyes.

The Kings surprised the Texters with big adjustments in their rotation early on, allowing them to dominate the first three quarters.

Alas, the Kings ran out of gas in the fourth quarter.

“I thought we played very well tonight. We defended very well, scored well and got them to a low-scoring game which what we wanted. The mistake was on my part for extending the minutes of the guys,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

“The decision I made backfired. Had I given them more rest, probably the outcome was different. They would have something to sustain on,” Uichico added.

Uichico started Brumfield, Mark Caguioa, Willie Miller and Rudy Hatfield with each one playing at least 38 minutes. Ginebra’s fifth man in its starting five was JC Intal.

The Kings converted 11 of 23 field-goal attempts in a big second-quarter charge, enabling them to lead by as many as 15 before closing the half at 49-36.

Ginebra took the opening quarter at 23-20 on a three-pointer by Mike Cortez in the closing seconds.

Ahead by only two at 29-27, the Kings worked on a 20-7 run to open a 15-point spread at 49-34 with 1:20 left in the first half.

The Kings took command in the first half with the Ginebra starters outscoring their Talk n Text counterparts, 33-21.

With the TnT reserves also struggling, the Texters were held to their lowest output in a half in the tourney.

Brumfield and company sustained the heat in the next 12 minutes of play, and the Kings sat on a 68-59 cushion going to the final period.