The 2014 PBA Philippine
Cup Playoffs semifinal cast is now complete. The Talk N Text Tropang Texters
formalized their entry to the next round of the conference after routing the
fancied Ginebra Gin Kings, effectively booting out the “people’s team” from
contention.
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| Ranidel De Ocampo and the rest of TNT plastered the Gin Kings en route to the 2014-2015 Philippine Cup semifinals! (image by Nuki Sabio/PBA) |
Game Capsules (adapted
from InterAKTV):
TALK N TEXT TROPANG TEXTERS over BGY. GINEBRA
GIN KINGS, 83-67
The Talk ‘N Text Tropang
Texters shackled Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the fourth quarter as they
ensured their entry into the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals after an 83-67
dismantling of the Kings at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum. Talk ‘N Text held their
opponents to a measly 9-point output in the fourth quarter and closed the game
out with an 8-0 run that sealed the game. Jayson Castro scored 23 points and
dished out five assists to lead the Tropang Texters. Ranidel De Ocampo chipped
in with 17 points off the bench, while rookie Matt Ganuelas-Rosser had 13
points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, and 4 blocks in a well-rounded effort. With the
win, Talk ‘N Text advanced to a best-of-seven semis series with the San Miguel
Beermen.
Strangely enough,
Ginebra’s size advantage wasn’t maximized here as the Texters outscored the
Kings in the paint, 48-32. TNT also had more second chsnce points despite Ginebra winning the battle of the
boards, 58-47. Ginebra just shot themselves out of this one. The Kings made
just 29% of their field goals in addition to committing 5 more turnovers than
their opponents.
The erstwhile dominant
twin tower combo of Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar was severely limited in
this one. Both guys struggled all night, with Aguilar dropping just 9 points on
3/10 FG shooting. He did, however, grab 11 rebounds and blocked 2 shots.
Slaughter, meanwhile, really underwhelmed with a paltry 8 points on 3/12 FG
shooting. The seven-footer also collared just 3 boards in 24 minutes of play.
This is the first time Slaughter failed to score in double-figures this season.
This result formalizes the
fact that, for the seventeenth straight conference, the Ginebra franchise has
failed to win a title.
Line of the Game: Jayson Castro - 23 points, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 rebound, 2 triples,
8/16 FGs.
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| Greg Slaughter struggled big time against a smaller TNT frontline. (image by Paul Ryan Tan/Sports5) |
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| Jayson Castro came up huge again in leading the Texters. (image by Paul Ryan Tan/Sports5) |
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