The Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters were able to give streaking Barako Bull its first blemish on an erstwhile unbeaten PBA Commissioner’s Cup record as they triumphed, 80-75, on Friday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Jayson Castro scored 16 points, including two big three-pointers in the fourth quarter, to lead a multitude of double-digit scorers for the balanced Tropang Texters, who climbed into a tie with their victims at 3-1.
Matt Ganuelas-Rosser finished with 15 while veteran pick-up Willie Miller had 13 and Ranidel De Ocampo had 11, both off the bench. Larry Fonacier added 10 points.
Import Richard Howell posted 11 points, 18 rebounds and four assists.
The game was tied with about six minutes remaining before Castro and Fonacier knocked down a couple of threes that helped the team stay in front in the endgame. The Tropang Texters hit 11 three-pointers in the contest while the Energy connected on just three.
Solomon Alabi had 21 points, 24 rebounds and five blocks for Barako Bull while Carlo Lastimosa added 16 in the loss.
Barako Bull showed just why it was undefeated in their first three games as it held Talk ‘N Text without a point in nearly three minutes to open the game with a 6-0 run.
With Talk ‘N Text’s defense creating easier opportunities off of turnovers and with their outside game clicking, the Tropang Texters finally got their offense going and it seemed like it could not be slowed as they went on a 23-7 blast to go up by 10 points late in the first.
Despite a rally by Barako Bull, Talk ‘N Text finished the quarter ahead, 25-19, on a buzzer-beating layup from rookie Kevin Alas.
Castro finished with eight points in the opening period for Talk ‘N Text, which was able to score 11 points off of Barako Bull’s seven turnovers in the first.
De Ocampo hit a pair of three-pointers early in the second as the Tropang Texters pushed their lead back into double-digits.
But the Energy showed great resolve as they went on an 8-0 run with their import Alabi on the bench. Jake Pascual scored six of those eight points while Lastimosa, who led Barako Bull with nine second quarter points, provided the other two.
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