MANILA — The Talk N Text Tropang Texters regained a share of the lead with a 113-93 dismantling of the San Miguel Beermen Wednesday night in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. The Texters nailed their seventh win in 10 outings to tie the Meralco Bolts at the top, enhancing their chances of grabbing the much coveted twice-to-beat advantage in the playoffs. The Beermen suffered their seventh defeat in 10 games as the specter of getting eliminated from the conference loomed even larger. TNT import Ivan Johnson poured in 41 points and hauled down 19 rebounds in an overpowering performance. Rookie Matt Ganuelas-Rosser added 22 points while Ranidel de Ocampo pitched in 17 markers. Import Arizona Reid led the Beermen with 32 points and 17 rebounds. MVP Jun Mar Fajardo contributed 22 points and just rebounds. Marcio Lassiter added 12 points. NLEX 102, Kia 86: The NLEX Road Warriors roared to a franchise-best fifth straight victory, crushing the Kia Carnival, 102-86, to ensure their passage to the quarterfinals. NLEX is now in solo fifth place in the standings with a 6-4 win-loss card while Kia found itself on the brink of elimination as it dropped into a tie with Barako Bull for ninth to 10th place. The last four teams, or those occupying ninth to 12th place, bid goodbye to the conference after playing 11 elimination round games. After shooting bricks in the first half, import Al Thornton finally got going in the third and fourth quarters, firing 25 of his 33 points in those periods. Aside from Thornton's offensive storm, NLEX relied on their pressure defense to force the Carnival to commit 15 turnovers in the second half, hastening their downfall. Jonas Villanueva also starred for NLEX, finishing with 20 points. Three other Road Warriors scored in double digits with Mac Cardona and Rudy Lingganay adding 16 and 12 points respectively. Asi Taulava posted 10 points and 10 rebounds just a day after being discharged from hospital following his confinement due to a bout with chronic migraine and a stubborn fever. As usual, the Carnival was led by its 7'3” import PJ Ramos who finished with 41 points and 23 rebounds. However, the Puerto Rican giant could only squeeze out two points in the fourth quarter, bothered by the stingy defense put on him by Taulava. No other Carnival scored in double digits.
Games Friday: Blackwater Elite vs. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters; Meralco Bolts vs. Purefoods Star Hotshots.
