Jay R. Gotera

Saudi Gazette

 

MANILA — The Talk N Text Tropang Texters outlasted the defending champion Purefoods Star Hotshots, 100-96, in overtime in a thrilling down-the-wire finish Wednesday night in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.



With the victory, their seventh in 10 games, the Texters remained in contention for grabbing one of two automatic semifinals berth.



The Hotshots fell to a 5-5 win-loss card, tying the Meralco Bolts and GlobalPort Batang Pier for sixth to eighth spots.



Down by 98-96 with 28 seconds remaining in overtime, the Hotshots had three chances to tie and send the game into another overtime but Mark Barroca, James Yap, and Joe Devance all missed consecutive attempts.



Jimmy Alapag finally collared the rebound and seal the TNT victory with two free throws.



Ranidel De Ocampo and Jay Washington led the Texters with 18 points apiece. Rob Reyes finished with 14 markers and nine rebounds while Jason Castro added 13 points.



Joe Devance was the top scorer for the Hotshots with 22 points. Marc Pingris had 22 markers and nine rebounds. James Yap finished with 18 points while PJ Simon and Mark Barroca added 15 and 11 points, respectively.



Meralco 99, Kia 93



The Meralco Bolts lost a huge 22-point lead and flirted with defeat before regaining their fiery form to quash the Manny Pacquiao-led Kia Sorento, 99-93.



Their ninth loss in 10 outings booted the Sorento out of playoff contention with a game left in their elimination round schedule.



The victory enabled Meralco to tie GlobalPort for seventh to eighth spots, both with an even 5-5 win-loss slate, and assured NLEX (3-7) the 10th and last playoffs berth.



The Bolts were up, 60-39, at halftime before the Sorento made a scorching 33-13 run in the third quarter to grab the lead. But Meralco quickly regained the lead and coasted to victory.



Jared Dillinger paced the Bolts finishing with 25 points on 10-for-15 shooting. Cliff Hodge had a double-double 17 points and 10 rebounds while Sean Anthony added 14 points, nine rebounds and five assists.



Reil Cervantes led Kia with 18 points, 12 of them in the third quarter when the Sorento made their run. His three-pointer with 27 seconds left in the quarter gave Kia a 72-71 lead.



Eloy Poligrates, playing in his first game since being traded by NLEX, added 11 markers.



Pacquiao played for Kia for the first time since the team’s 80-66 come-from-behind win over Blackwater during the season opener in Bulacan.



The boxing icon started for Kia but was held scoreless. He missed two three-point attempts, had two rebounds, one foul and one turnover in 6:30 minutes of action.



Games Friday: Rain or Shine Elasto Painters vs. Alaska Aces; San Miguel Beermen vs. Talk N Text Tropang Texters.