2010-11 PBA: Talk 'N Text inches in on Philippine Cup trophy, takes 3-2 lead

Thursday, 03 February 2011 19:14 Diego de la Paz

After a two-game slumber, the giants have awoken.

Feeling a sense of urgency and seeing the opportunity at hand, Talk 'N Text is now one game away from claiming their second Philippine Cup title in the continuation of the 2010-11 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) season on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Tropang Texters, after losing two straight matches and their series advantage, used a second-quarter surge to wipe out the comebacking San Miguel Beermen, 99-77, in Game 4.

Ranidel de Ocampo finished with 20 points, while Jimmy Alapag used a 12-point second quarter outburst to seize control of the match and the series. The former national team guard finished with a near-triple double output of 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 10 assists.

Meanwhile, the Beermen have a lot of adjustments to make if they want to stay alive in the series and force a Game 7 on Sunday.

Jay Washington and Arwind Santos each had 18 points to sustain the San Miguel onslaught, but the second-quarter deluge eventually brought about a second-half collapse that did the Beermen in.

A huge disparity from the foul line, with TNT garnering 41 attempts and making 25 of them, as compared to a measly 13-of-19 for SMB, also made the last 36 minutes hell for Coach Ato Agustin's ballclub.

The Manny V. Pangilinan-bankrolled Piltel franchise seeks to capture their third Philippine Cup title on Friday.

BOX SCORES
TALK 'N TEXT 99 - De Ocampo 20, Castro 17, Alapag 16, Reyes 10, Dillinger 9, Fonacier 9, Peek 9, Williams 6, Carey 3, Yee 0, Aban 0, Alvarez 0, Lao 0
SAN MIGUEL 77 - Washington 18, Santos 18, Hontiveros 14, Ildefonso 7, Miranda 5, Pena 4, Yeo 3, Salvacion 3, Cabagnot 2, Pennisi 2, Artadi 1, Racela 0
Quarters: 14-23, 52-44, 74-64, 99-77

PBA PHILIPPINE CUP FINALS AT A GLANCE
Game 1: TALK 'N TEXT 91 - 82 SAN MIGUEL
J. Castro (TNT) 16 pts., 5 ast.
A. Santos (SMB) 13 pts., 15 reb.

Game 2: TALK 'N TEXT 110 - 102 SAN MIGUEL
J. Dillinger (TNT) 20 pts., 5 reb.
J. Washington (SMB) 20 pts.

Game 3: SAN MIGUEL 103 - 82 TALK 'N TEXT
A. Santos (SMB) 20 pts.
J. Castro (TNT) 13 pts.

Game 4: SAN MIGUEL 91 - 87 TALK 'N TEXT
J. Washington (SMB) 25 pts., 9 reb.
R. de Ocampo (TNT) 19 pts., 6 reb.

Game 5: TALK 'N TEXT 99 - 77 SAN MIGUEL
J. Alapag (TNT) 16 pts., 7 reb., 10 ast.
J. Washington (SMB) 18 pts., 12 reb.

Game 6: Araneta Coliseum
Friday, February 4 - 8:00 p.m.

Game 7: Araneta Coliseum (if necessary)
Sunday, February 6 - 7:00 p.m.

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