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Talk 'N Text demolishes Ginebra, sends them to early vacation

Talk ‘N Text wasted no little time in sending Barangay Ginebra packing.

With returning import Richard Howell throwing his full weight in the lane, the top-seeded Tropang Texters hacked out a dominant 97-84 victory against eighth-ranked Gin Kings Tuesday night to storm into the PBA Commissioners Cup semifinals at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Showing he has indeed fully covered from a bruised right shoulder he sustained in their 85-82 win over Rain or Shine last April 9, the 6-foot-7 Howell immediately asserted himself in the lane and served as Talk ‘N Text’s uncontainable force notably in their merciless showing in the third canto that enabled them to break away for good from a lackluster Ginebra side.

Howell went on to finish with  41 points, 14 of them coming in the third canto where Talk ‘N Text exploded for 37 points and turned an eight-point halftime lead into a whopping 79-53 bubble going to the last 12 minutes. He also added 22 rebounds.

Conspiring with Howell in that decisive canto was guard Jayson Castro, who pumped in 10 of his 13 points, while their teammates, notably Ranidel de Ocampo, Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes, set the tone defensively.

Pitted against the Texters’ unforgiving defense, the Gin Kings struggled to get any offensive rhythm as import Gabe Freeman and rookie center Greg Slaughter groped for form, causing them to take an early exit with lots of questions needing an answer.

The Gin Kings tried hard to ditch a comeback in the payoff canto but the Texters won’t be denied.
Talk 'N Text, which has remained unbeaten after 10 games this conference, will take on the winner of the Meralco-Rain or Shine series in a best-of-five semifinals.
 
 
The Main Man: Hardly missing a beat, TNT import Richard Howell pumped in 23 points in the first half then scattered another 14 in the third canto where he certainly overwhelmed every defender that Ginebra threw at him.
 
Honorable Mentions: Complementing Howell’s marvelous outing were locals Jayson Castro, Ranidel de Ocampo and Kelly Williams.
 
Game Turning Point: Showing up with fire in their eyes from the break, the Texters unleashed their full might in the third canto, scoring the first eight points while showing no mercy on the Gin Kings on the defensive end.
 
He Said It:
Talk ‘N Text head coach Norman Black: “All credit goes to the players for really coming out and playing hard today. They have the will to win and the desire to win. We got a little sloppy in the end. It’s nice to be back in the semifinals.”
 
The scores:

TALK N' TEXT 97 - Howell 41, De Ocampo 15, Castro 13, Fonacier 12, Alapag 5, Williams 4, Carey 4, Canaleta 3, Salamat 0, Seigle 0, Aban 0, Reyes Jai 0, Reyes Ryan 0, Baclao 0.

GINEBRA 84 - Caguioa 19, Freeman 15, Tenorio 12, Urbiztondo 9, Ababou 7, Aguilar 7, Slaughter 6, Baracael 4, Helterbrand 2, Mamaril 2, Reyes 1, Ellis 0.

Quarters: 27-21, 42-34, 79-53, 97-84.