The Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters got off to a blistering start and never looked back as they beat the Barako Bull Energy, 122-106, in the PBA Philippine Cup yesterday at the Alonte Sports Arena in Laguna.
Jayson Castro set the tone for the one-sided rout by scoring 14 of his 26 points in the first period which ended with the Texters already ahead, 40-20. Talk N Text was only ahead by a candlestick, 13-12, when Castro found his groove, scoring on a variety of ways to fuel a 27-8 spurt that put the Texters in front by a wide margin. The win was the Texters’ fifth in eight games.
Jimmy Alapag made four three-pointers for 14 points while Larry Fonacier and Ranidel de Ocampo added 13 apiece. Aaron Aban finished with 10. The Texters shot a torrid pace from beyond the rainbow country, making a total of 18 three-pointers.
Paolo Hubalde finished with 19 markers to lead the Energy who saw their brief two-game winning streak come to an end and slot them into a 2-6 (win-loss) mark. JC Intal and Chico Lanete finished with 16 apiece.