TALK ‘N TEXT overcame the absence of import Ivan Johnson and survived the scoring outburst of Carlo Lastimosa and held on for a 108-102 win on Wednesday at the start of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ryan Reyes and Jayson Castro hit clutch three-pointers in the closing minutes of the contest to give the Tropang Texters the needed cushion and preserve the win.
“Credit to the players. Buti nakalusot kahit walang import,” said Talk ‘N Text Head Coach Jong Uichico, who also missed the services of top rookie Troy Rosario due to injury.
Johnson sat out after serving the one-game suspension for punching Elite’s JP Erram and Frank Golla during a tune-up game.
But Talk ‘N Text hardly missed his services, as the comebacking Ranidel de Ocampo, Reyes, Castro and Moala Tautuaa carried the fight for the defending champions.
Castro finished with a team-high 22 points, including a huge three-pointer that gave his team a 106-100 lead with 53 seconds remaining.
De Ocampo added 20 markers on seven-of-12 shooting from the field, while Reyes and Tautuaa each had 16 points for Talk ‘N Text, which survived the 39-point explosion of Lastimosa.
Blackwater import MJ Rhett had a decent debut with 16 points but struggled with his shots, converting just six of his 17 attempts from the floor.
Mike Cortez had 14 points and eight assists for the Elite, who also drew 15 points from Reil Cervantes and 11 from rookie Art de la Cruz.
Talk ‘N Text was comfortably ahead at 100-90 when Lastimosa scored six straight to push his team within four, 96-100, with 3:01 left in the game.
Reyes then hit a triple to end the run, 103-96, but Blackwater against hit six straight points to threaten at 102-103 with 1:46 remaining before Castro sank a clutch trey for a 106-102 separation with 53 ticks left.
Rhett missed in the next play for the Elite and Larry Fonacier pegged the final score with an uncontested lay-up.
Image credits: NONOY LACZA