TALK N Text rode on Bobby Ray Parks’ steady game to roll back NorthPort, 112-87, and assure itself of a quarterfinals berth in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Center in Pampanga.
Parks finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds and four other players scored in double figures as the Tropang Giga buried the Batang Pier with an avalanche of baskets right in the opening minutes entoute to their league-leading sixth win in seven matches.
Talk N Text scored the game’s first nine points, took a 30-13 first-quarter lead and established as many as 36-point advantage, 86-50, for a wire-to-wire victory exactly five days after a 98-109 setback to NLEX last Oct. 29.
“Today was a great response of the team from a loss. We showed up with a lot of energy and picked up the pieces. It’s a testament to the determination of the team,” said Parks, who also had two assists and two steals.
Roger Pogoy added 15 points on 7-of-14 shooting in only 23 minutes for Talk N Text.
Troy Rosario had his own double-double game with 14 points and 10 rebounds and Jay Washington and Almond Vosotros had 11 points apiece for the Tropang Giga.
So lopsided was the game that Talk N Text head coach Bong Ravena managed to spread the playing minutes in anticipation of a tough grind ahead in the closing phase of the elims
“It’s a good sign,” said Ravena of the push they got from their bench players.
With the outcone of the game already settled, Ravena decided not to play Pogoy and Jayson Castro after the third period.
“We’re lucky today that we caught NorthPort on a bad day. Now, we have to get ready with a game tomorrow again against Magnolia,” added Ravena.
Kelly Nabong came through with 17 points and Christian Standhardinger had 15 points and 12 rebounds for NorthPort, which fell to 1-5.
The scores:
Talk N Text (112) — Parks 22, Pogoy 15, Rosario 14, Washington 11, Vosotros 11, Reyes 9, Erram 8, De Leon 7, Castro 7, Flores 4, Semerad 2, Montalbo 2, Enciso 0, Carey 0, Alejandro 0. NorthPort (87) — Nabong 17, Standhardinger 15, Cruz 14, Taha 8, Subido 8, Lanete 8, Manganti 6, Elorde 4, Guinto 3, Revilla 2, Ferrer 2, Anthony 0, Grey 0.
Quarterscores: 30-13, 54-30, 90-55, 112-87.
