Ocampo, Castro lift Talk ‘N Text to victory
MANILA: It was exciting the way it went down, but Talk ‘N Text coach Jong Uichico was the least impressed.
Ranidel de Ocampo and Jason Castro, national team mainstays who are Talk ‘N Text’s leaders, canned big-time jumpers one after the other in the stretch on Wednesday night to key an 89-86 win over Rain or Shine in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Those shots completed a comeback from seven points down in the last seven minutes for the Tropang Texters, who fought the Elasto Painters and their import Rick Jackson on even terms even with Richard Howell hobbled by fouls early.
Castro was a woeful 4-of-16 from the field when he made a double-pumping running jumper under heavy pressure in the last 5.4 seconds for what turned out to be the final count.
Rain or Shine failed to send the game into overtime when Chris Tiu, having possession with 3.2 seconds remaining, was way off target with a triple try at the buzzer.
“We didn’t look pretty,” the multi-titled Uichico said. “We have some work (to do). It seems like we are playing in the same way when we started the Philippine Cup.”
Uichico was referring to their slow start in the last tournament won by San Miguel Beer over Alaska, where he and his players were feeling each other out after Uichico assumed the reins from Norman Black less than two months before opening day.
Castro finished with 15 points and still went on to lead the Texters, the second placers here behind Grand Slam champion San Mig Coffee (now Purefoods) with Howell also as their import.
Howell had a difficult time handling the wide-bodied Jackson, who scored 13 points in the first quarter and finished with 30 in an impressive debut.
But Jackson had a critical miss after De Ocampo had given the Texters an 87-86 lead with a difficult turnaround jumper also over the outstretched arms of the Rain or Shine import. Jackson actually gave the Painters their last taste of the lead, 86-85, after canning an unorthodox-looking left-handed jumper from the keyhole heading into the final 76 seconds.
But the Texters would shackle the Painters no end from there and wouldn’t allow Rain or Shine to score.
Howell, who figured in a great matchup with Purefoods’ James Mays last year, still managed to put up 13 points, the last four coming in Talk ‘N Text’s 10-5 finishing kick.
Rain or Shine held a 78-71 lead with 7:01 left after a Jackson layup but would score just eight points the rest of the way.
Meanwhile, Barako Bull encountered rather smooth sailing earlier in the day when it plastered an import-less Blackwater side, 92-70.
The Energy got 21 points and 22 rebounds from import Sol Alabi, who was practically unchallenged in the shaded lane when Blackwater coach Leo Isaac decided to rest Chris Charles because of a slight hamstring injury.
The 7-foot-1 Alabi, despite his numbers, didn’t look to be a dominating presence inside but still had his way only because locals were trying to hold him down.
Still, the Elite put up a good fight as Brian Facundo, the former Letran Knight in the NCAA who has struggled all throughout his pro career, led a searing third quarter effort by Blackwater that got them within four points entering the fourth.
The Energy, though, put them away at the start of the final frame with a 13-0 opening. Barako Bull would never be threatened from there.