The Tropang Texters needed big plays down the stretch to deny the Express from coming back in the game. They booked at least a tie for one of the top two spots with a league-leading 10-2 win-loss mark. The first and second place qualifiers enjoy twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
Jimmy Alapag fired 18 points and dished out six assists while Jayson Castro and Ranidel de Ocampo each had 16 points for the defending champions, who were challenged by the pesky Air 21 side to the hilt.
“Credit to Air21. They played us tough,” said Talk ‘N Text head coach Norman Black, who sent the Express to their third straight loss for a 4-8 mark.
“At the start of the season, the goal is to get into the top two spots and we accomplished that today at least for a playoff. Now the tough road begins. We play Petron next and Ginebra.”
Mike Cortez paced Air 21 with 23 points to go along with his nine rebounds, while James Sena and Nino Canaleta added 18 and 13 points, respectively.
Cortez, Canaleta and Sena were responsible for keeping the Express in the game, combining for 19 points in the third quarter as they trailed by just one point, 70-69, entering the fourth quarter.
They even took the lead at 75-74 on Sena’s basket before Talk ‘N Text responded with an 8-2 assault to take an 82-77 spread.
Renren Ritualo’s three-pointer pushed Air 21 within three points, 88-85. But Kelly Williams hit two free throws and Alapag hit a decisive three-poiinter for a 93-85 cushion with 3:47 remaining to take the game for good.
“Jimmy came into the game with a lot of energy. He’s just being himself tonight,” said Black.
The scores:
TALK N’ TEXT 100 – Alapag 18, Castro 16, De Ocampo 16, Fonacier 11, Williams 9, Peek 9, Dillinger 8, Carey 8, Reyes 2, Aban 2, Alvarez 1.
AIR 21 94 – Cortez 23, Sena 18, Canaleta 13, Isip 9, Arboleda 8, Ritualo 7, Custodio 6, Atkins 4, Reyes 4, Omolon 2, Baclao 0.
Quarters: 20-19, 51-48, 70-69, 100-94
-InterAKTV
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