MANILA — He may not be a Michael Jordan but former New York Knicks' center Jerome Jordan was just as devastating as his legendary namesake Sunday night in his PBA debut game for his new team, the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters. Jordan dropped 23 points and snatched 17 rebounds in 39 minutes of action to lead the Texters to a 100-86 rout of the stunned Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in the Commissioner's Cup at the jampacked Mall of Asia Arena. The seven-foot Texter was not only devastating in offense but in defense as well as he shackled Ginebra's explosive import Vernon Macklin to just 12 points on a 3-of-12 shooting. Before the game, the Ginebra import had a 25.4 points' scoring average plus 16 boards. Jordan, a native of Jamaica, said he's in the PBA win, vowing to lead the Texters to the championship. “We'll try to make a strong push (to close the elims) and try to win the whole thing (the championship),” he said. Ranidel de Ocampo ably backed up Jordan with 20 points. Three other Texters scored in double digit: Jason Castro with 14, and Ryan Reyes 11 and Jimmy Alapag with 11 points apiece. Talk ‘N Text pulled away early in the game and never looked back, shooting a sizzling 45 percent from the field including 8-of-19 from beyond the three-point arc. The Texters took the first quarter at 32-17 and led by as many as 17 in the second quarter at 40-23. The Kings made a valiant stand in the third quarter, rallying to within one at 61-62 as Kerby Raymundo waxed hot. Raymundo finished with a team-best 22 points before fouling out with eight minutes to go. LA Tenorio added 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists for the Kings. After Ginebra sliced the deficit to a point, the Texters regrouped and pulled away anew, leaving the Kings gasping for breath. Their seventh win in 13 outings plus their good quotient assured the Texters of a spot in the Top 6, a favourable ranking since they would not have the twice-to-win disadvantage in the quarterfinals which the seventh and eighth seed will carry. Talk ‘N Text could even secure the fourth seed if it beats Petron in the final day of eliminations on Wednesday as the Texters hold a superior quotient over the San Mig Coffee Mixers. The Kings absorbed their second straight loss and ended their elimination round campaign with an even 7-7 card. They could drop to No. 7 seed if Meralco beats Rain or Shine also Wednesday. If Meralco loses, however, Ginebra will take the sixth spot and Meralco the seventh. Air21 (6-8) earlier finished as the eighth seed. Waiting in the wings are the No. 1 seed Alaska Aces (11-3) and No. 2 seed Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (9-4). In the battle between two eliminated squads in the first game of Sunday's double-header, the Barako Bull Energy Cola defeated the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 96-87. The Energy Cola thus bid goodbye to the Commissioner's Cup with a 5-9 card for ninth place, the same position they were in during the last Philippine Cup. Allein Maliksi recorded career-highs of 25 points and 12 rebounds to lead Barako Bull. Josh Urbiztondo added 17 points, nine assists, five rebounds and two steals while much fancied import DJ Mbenga managed 14 points, 15 rebounds and three shotblocks. GlobalPort lost for the 11th straight time, the longest losing streak by any team this season, as it finished 10th and last for the second straight conference. Gary David and Mark Yee were the only double-digit scorers for the hapless Batang Pier. David had 28 points while Yee added 11.
