TALK N TEXT is in, Alaska Milk is out.
Talk N Text used a brilliant third-quarter run to eliminate Alaska, 104-83, and advance to the semifinals in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Center in Pampanga.
A decisive 33-15 effort in the third quarter was all the Tropang Giga needed to turn a close contest into a rout.
Roger Pogoy stood at the helm of the Tropang Giga’s resounding victory as he exploded with a game-high 34 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the rainbow territory.
Ray Parks added 20 points, five rebounds and five assists, Troy Rosario contributed 10 points and three rebounds and JP Erram had nine points and 11 rebounds for the Tropang Giga, who will meet either Phoenix Super LPG or Magnolia in the best-of-five semis starting next week.
Jayson Castro had eight points and five rebounds despute playing limited minutes due to a calf issue.
Talk N Text coach Bong Ravena said defense — not just offense –made the big difference as the Tropang Giga became the second top-ranked team to eliminate lower-ranked quarterfinal opponent.
“It’s all about defense. As much as possible, we don’t want to break down on defense. We have to rotate, especially on the weak side. We managed to do what we wanted to do. It’s tough but we pulled through,” said Ravena.
Ravena said his team eill be ready in the semis.
“We’ll be ready whoever we face in the semis,” he added.
Jeron Teng carried the fight for Alaska with 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists, followed by Vic Manuel and Maverick Ahanmisi with 12 points apiece.
The game was close in the first half, which ended at 51-all.
Pogoy then opened the third quarter with a three-point shot following a miss by Simon Enciso.
It was all Talk N Text, however, from there.
Rosario’s layup gave the Tropang Giga their biggest lead of 26 points, 101-75, with only 3:21 left.
Last Friday, Barangay Ginebra lived up to its top billing by beating Rain or Shine, 81-73, and punching the first ticket to the semifinals.
Stanley Pringle made the baskets that mattered most for the Gin Kings, who came through with nine straight points to turn a precarious 72-71 lead into an 81-71 lead.
Pringle scored on back-to-back baskets to trigger a 9-0 run that enabled the Gin Kings to finally slam the door on the E-Painters.
LA Tenorio’s dagger 3 capped the Gin Kings’ furious scoring run.
“I’ve said it before, he’s our closer,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone of Pringle, who finished with 10 points, five assists and two rebounds.
“We put the ball in his hands down the stretch and we expect him to close it for us,” added Cone. “We’re not going to force, do that every possession because it gets too exhausting and the defense gets too predictable. But down the stretch we’re gonna figure out a way to try and get him free and allow him to do his thing. That’s what he did.”
Japeth Aguilar finished with a double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds,while Prince Caperal and Aljon Mariano added 11 points apiece for Ginebra.
Tenorio added eight points.
Tenorio also joined the 3,000 assists club, becoming only the 11th player to do so and just the second active one along with San Miguel Beer’s Alex Cabagnot.
Mark Borboran had 13 points and Javee Mocon had 12 points for Rain or Shine,which put up a good fight in what turned out to be a final game in the bubble.
Rey Nambatac added 10 points in a losing effort.
Cone had good words for to praise Rain or Shine’s gallant stand.
“Rain or Shine is really, really good. They’re a tough, grind-out team. We came into this game expecting to grind it out and that’s exactly what we got,”said Cone.
The scores:
Talk N Text (104) – Pogoy 34, Parks 20, Rosario 10, Erram 9, Castro 8, Enciso 6, Semerad 4, Washington 4, Alejandro 3, Carey 2, Reyes 2, Montalbo 2, Vosotros 0, Flores 0. Alaska (83) – Teng 13, Ahanmisi 12, Manuel 12, Herndon 11, Brondial 9, Ayaay 8, Tratter 6, DiGregorio 4, Ebona 4, Casio 2, Marcelino 2, Andrada 0, Publico 0. Quarterscores: 28-23, 51-51, 84-66, 104-83.
