Texters junk Fuel Masters
ACES, ROAD WARRIORS START Q’FINALS
TNT KaTropa imposed itself on Phoenix Petroleum with its rich playoff experience and superior firepower, and hacked out a decisive 118-97 victory to salvage the last quarterfinals berth in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.
The Texters stepped up at the start of the second half, unleashing a 16-3 salvo to break the game wide open then subsequently grab the right to play three-time all-Filipino defending champs San Miguel Beermen in the Final Eight.
Barangay Ginebra and Rain or Shine face off on one side, and Alaska Milk and NLEX square off on the other side in a pair of three best-of-three quarterfinals that kick off the playoffs tonight at the MOA Arena.
Meanwhile, top seed San Miguel and second seed Magnolia take their first of two cracks at the Final Four versus TNT and GlobalPort, respectively, tomorrow at the same Pasay City playing venue.
“We’re No. 8 playing the No. 1 team with its twice-to-beat advantage. But it is what it is. The important thing is we’re still alive,” said TNT coach Nash Racela.
“From our last game in the elims against NLEX, every game for us is do-or-die. By winning today, we live to play another game. That’s all we wanted – to have a chance. As long you’re alive, you have the chance,” Racela also said.
In the same tourney last year, the Beermen and the Texters figured in a best-of-seven semis that went the full route.
Troy Rosario showed the way in the first half with 4-of-7 three-pointers and a total of 18 points then RR Pogoy, Jericho Cruz, Jayson Castro, Kelly Williams, Tony Semerad and Moala Tautuaa took over as the Texters nailed a seventh straight playoff appearance, 12th in
the last 13 conferences and 22nd in the last 24.
But then they have only a day to prepare for an expected uphill battle against June Mar Fajardo and his teammates.
SMB coach Leo Austria was a keen observer in TNT’s demolition of Phoenix.
“Hindi na nila kailangan mag-scout,” said Racela to underscore the fact that the Beermen are the heavy favorites in their faceoff.
As part of their early preparation for the Beermen, Racela already rested his main men for most of the fourth quarter, allowing his third group to finish the game.
As Pogoy canned in his lone trey in the match, the Texters opened a huge 20-point spread at 75-55 and coasted to the victory to keep Phoenix out of the playoff picture for the second straight conference.
The Fuel Masters ended up as ninth placers in their first tourney under coach Louie Alas.
Matthew Wright and Doug Kramer made 14 and 10 points, respectively, as the Fuel Masters fought the Texters through 16 lead changes and five deadlocks in the first two quarters.
But the Fuel Masters crumbled under the weight of the Texters’ strong third-quarter start.
The Texters ended up with balanced offensives where seven players finish in double figures – Rosario with 18, Castro and Cruz with 17 apiece, Pogoy with 15, Semerad with 12, Williams with 11 and Tautuaa with 10. The scores: TALK N’ TEXT 118 – Rosario 18, Cruz 17, Castro 17, Pogoy 15, Semerad 12, Williams 11, Tautuaa 10, Reyes 5, Tamsi 4, Garcia 4, Paredes 3, Nuyles 2, Golla 0, Carey 0, Torres 0.
PHOENIX 97 – Wright 18, Kramer 16, Alolino 13, Jazul 11, Perkins 10, Chan 9, Mendoza 7, Eriobu 5, Intal 4, Wilson 2, Guevarra 2, Dehesa 0, Cortes 0, Gamboa 0.
Quarterscores: 27-25, 54-49, 94-76, 118-97