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| Yeng Guiao and the Painters are back in a PBA Finals series for the first time in ages. |
TALK N TEXT TROPANG TEXTERS over RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO-PAINTERS, 98-90
Paul Harris played a stellar game, while a great defensive effort by Talk ‘N Text keyed the Tropang Texters’ 98-90 triumph over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in their PBA Governors’ Cup semis match Monday night at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Harris finished with 34 points, 16 rebounds, and five assists in a solid all-around performance that kept Talk ‘N Text’s hope of forging a playoff for a finals berth alive.
While Harris maintained his composure throughout the match, his counterpart, Jamelle Cornley, faltered in the endgame. The Rain or Shine import had two crucial miscues and missed important shots that could have changed the complexion of the game.
With Cornley a non-factor in the endgame, the Elasto Painters failed to complete their comeback that saw them cutting an 18-point deficit to just one.
The Elasto Painters rallied from a 62-44 deficit in the third period, behind the efforts of Beau Belga, who knocked down two three-pointers, Cornley, Paul Lee, and Jeff Chan.
By the end of the third period, the Elasto Painters were only down, 80-79.
But in the fourth quarter, Ali Peek and Kelly Williams anchored the Tropang Texters’ defense as Talk ‘N Text held Rain or Shine to only 11 points. Cornley was reduced to only two field goals.
Talk ‘N Text’s win over Rain or Shine made the final day of the semifinals on Wednesday more interesting.
Rain or Shine fell into a tie for the lead with B-MEG with a 9-4 win-loss card. The two teams face each other in Wednesday’s curtain raiser at 5:15 p.m. with the winner advancing to the championship round. The loser of the match will face the winner of the main game between Talk ‘N Text and Barangay Ginebra for a playoff for the last finals berth.
TNT 98 – Harris 34, De Ocampo 17, Alapag 10, Fonacier 9, Castro 8, Williams 6, Peek 6, Aguilar 5, Aban 3, Raymundo 0, Reyes 0.
ROS 90 – Cornley 27, Chan 15, Quinahan 14, Lee 13, Belga 11, Norwood 6, Buenafe 4, Matias 0, Tang 0, Arana 0, Ibanes 0.
QS: 30-21, 57-44, 80-79, 98-90
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| Jamelle Cornley and the Painters just unraveled against the Tropang Texters. |
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| Jimmy Alapag repeatedly punctured the hoops as TNT gained a measure of hope after beating ROS. |
RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO-PAINTERS over B-MEG LLAMADOS, 92-82
Six years of waiting is finally over for Rain or Shine.
The Elasto Painters booked the first finals appearance in franchise history after beating B-MEG, 92-82, in a physical and highly emotional encounter to end up as the No. 1 team after the semifinals of the PBA Governors’ Cup Wednesday night at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Denied by Powerade in the last Philippine Cup, Rain or Shine made sure there won’t be another disappointment for the franchise, playing with sustained energy from start to finish for the franchise that joined the league in 2006.
Jeff Chan tallied a game-high 26 points, none bigger than a three-pointer to give the Elasto Painters an 88-77 leadlate in the game to keep the Llamados at bay.
The Elasto Painters will now be waiting the winner of the playoff battle between B-MEG and the survivor of the Talk ‘N Text-Barangay Ginebra tussle.
Jamelle Cornley had 16 points and 16 rebounds while Ronjay Buenafe contributed 11 points for Rain or Shine, which finished the semis with a 10-4 win-loss mark.
Marcus Blakley led the Llamados with 18 points but was 6-of-14 from the free throw line in a foul-plagued 40 minutes of action.
The Elasto Painters tried to pull away in the third period after erecting a 23-point advantage, 74-51, on Chan’s two free throws with 2:41 remaining.
But the Llamados, behind their second unit, managed to cut the big lead to a single digit, 77-86, on Blakely’s slam, 2:54 left in the game.
B-MEG had an opportunity to move closer but Peter June Simon muffed a wide-open three-pointer that led to Chan’s side jumper to practically put the game out of reach.
Game One of the best-of-seven championship series will start on Sunday also at the Big Dome.
ROS 92 - Chan 25, Cornley 16, Buenafe 11, Cruz 9, Lee 8, Norwood 7, Belga 7, Quinahan 7, Ibanes 2, Tang 0, Arana 0.
BML 82 - Blakely 18, Yap 12, Villanueva 11, Barroca 10, Simon 9, Pingris 8, De Ocampo 6, Gaco 4, Reavis 4, Urbiztondo 0.
QS: 23-20, 49-41, 74-58, 92-82
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| Jeff Chan wants to earn a bit PBA title before he plays for the National Team. |
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| JR Quinahan and Rain or Shine blocked the Llamados' outright entry into the Govs' Cup Finals. |
BGY. GINEBRA KINGS over TALK N TEXT TROPANG TEXTERS, 73-71
The Gin Kings are alive.
Barangay Ginebra came through with clutch plays down the stretch to pull off a 73-71 escape over Talk ‘N Text in the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals Wednesday night at the jampacked SMART Araneta Coliseum to force a do-or-die match on Friday against B-MEG for the second finals berth.
Kerby Raymundo drilled a huge three-pointer from the top of the key before Cedric Bozeman forced Paul Harris to a crucial turnover in the Tropang Texters’ potential game-tying play to help seal the Gin Kings’ victory.
Ginebra finished the semis with a 9-5 win-loss mark, tying the Llamados for second place.
Mark Caguioa led the Gin Kings with 18 points while Raymundo added 15, including a buzzer-beater three-pointer that gave them a 73-69 cushion with exactly three minutes remaining.
After Paul Harris converted on a drive to push the Tropang Texters within two points, the Philippine Cup champions had the chance to tie or take the lead after Ginebra was whistled for a 24-shot clock violation with 15.9 seconds remaining.
But Harris, tightly guarded by Bozeman, stepped on the baseline, giving the possession back to the Kings with 3.9 seconds left.
In the ensuing play for Ginebra, Willy Wilson took the inbound pass and threw the ball in the air as time expired.
Harris paced all scorers with 25 points but his efforts went down the drain as Talk ‘N Text’s streak of five straight finals appearances ended last night.
It was also coach Chot Reyes’ last game with the Tropang Texters. He is scheduled to take over the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national program, with current consultant and Ateneo coach Norman Black taking over the Talk ‘N Text job next season.
GIN 73 - Caguioa 18, Raymundo 15, Bozeman 14, Cortez 11, Maierhofer 4, Mamaril 4, Hatfield 4, W. Wilson 2, Villanueva 1, Ababou 0, Helterbrand 0.
TNT 71 - Harris 25, Reyes 8, De Ocampo 8, Castro 7, Alapag 7, Peek 7, Williams 3, Aguilar 2, Fonacier 2, Carey 2, Aban 0.
QS: 27-21, 42-40, 61-59, 73-71
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| Paul Harris led all players in scoring, but it was all for naught as TNT got booted out. |
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| Kerby Raymundo turned back the clock to help the Gin Kings stay alive for the last Finals seat. |
Source: Unless otherwise specified, game recaps were compressed and compiled from InterAKTV. (Writing credit to Reynaldo Belen & Kris Lagman.)
Images: All images are from InterAKTV. (Photo credit to Paolo Papa and Paul Ryan Tan)
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