Games today
Araneta Coliseum
3:00 p.m.- Alaska vs. Purefoods
5:15 p.m.- Meralco vs. NLEX
Elimination round topnotchers Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters, both armed with twice-to-beat edges, quickly dismissed their respective opponents to advance to the semifinal round of the 40th PBA Commissioner’s Cup yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Number one seed Rain or Shine went through the wringer before escaping the eight seed Barangay Ginebra Kings, 92-91, while the second-seeded Talk ‘N Text had a walk in the park in blasting the number seventh seed Barako Bull Energy Colas, 127-97.
Rain or Shine will next play the winner in the best-of-three quarterfinal series between the Meralco Bolts and the NLEX Road Warriors.
Up next for Talk ‘N Text is the victor in the other race-to-two series between the Alaska Aces and defending champions Purefoods Star Hothots.
Meralco and Purefoods both 1-0 leads with Game 2 of those series taking place today at the Araneta Coliseum.
Import Ivan Johnson erupted for 35 points on a hot 13-for-19 shooting from the field, leading Talk ‘N Text’s fourth straight semifinal appearance and 13th in the last 15 conferences.
Rain or Shine, on the other hand, leaned on the endgame heroics of Jeff Chan and Raymond Almazan to edge out the hard-fighting Kings.
Almazan unloaded 12 of his team-high 17 points in the fourth quarter, while Chan delivered the critical baskets in the endgame, including a fastbreak layup in the final 4.9 seconds that sealed Rain or Shine’s cardiac win.
Chan finished with 17 points, eight coming in the fourth. Import Wayne Chism also scored 17 points.
Greg Slaughter collected 26 points and 16 rebounds but still failed to save the Kings.
Ginebra surged ahead, 91-90, inside the final minute but Chan came up with a big steal in the steal then raced to the other end of the court to complete the game-winning layup.
Ginebra’s exit was sealed when Jay-Jay Helterbrand missed a wild layup in the next play.
FIRST GAME
BOX SCORES
TALK ‘N TEXT (127)- Johnson 35, Castro 18, De Ocampo 16, Ganuelas-Rosser 12, Fonacier 10, Alas 8, Seigle 8, Washington 5, Williams 4, Espiritu 3, Carey 2, Labagala 2, Reyes 2, Aban 2, Miller 0.
BARAKO BULL (97)- Alabi 23, Intal 22, Lanete 13, Pascual 12, Garcia 6, Lastimosa 6, Marcelo 6, Mercado 4, Hubalde 3, Salvador 2, Salva 0, Paredes 0.QUARTERSCORES: 45-23, 75-44, 101-73, 127-97.
SECOND GAME
RAIN OR SHINE (92)- Chism 17, Chan 17, Almazan 17, Lee 9, Norwood 9, Uyloan 5, Arana 4, Quinahan 4, Cruz 4, Teng 2, Tiu 2, Belga 2, Teng 0.
GINEBRA 91) – Slaughter 26, Aguilar 14, Caguioa 14, Dunigan 11, Urbiztondo 7, Tenorio 7, Helterbrand 5, Yeo 4, Baracael 3, Ellis 0.QUARTERSCORES: 21-18, 44-42, 63-68, 92-91.