Talk N Text import Steffphon Pettigrew slips past Ginebra's defense for an easy undergoal stab as Kings' import Orlando Johnson (R) looks on in their PBA Governors' Cup match Sunday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. Jay R. Gotera Saudi Gazette
MANILA — In a so-called battle of the banged up, the PBA Commissioner's Cup champion Talk N Text Tropang Texters proved steadier in the clutches to launch their Governors' Cup campaign with a win over the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 95-91, Sunday night. Both teams came into the game with key players out of commission due to injuries. TNT was missing top gunner Jayson Castro, Ranidel de Ocampo, Kevin Alas and Aaron Aban while Ginebra was without its Twin Towers of Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar plus Chris Ellis. The Kings absorbed their second straight defeat despite another herculean effort made by their import Orlando Johnson who followed his 50-point performance against Alaska Friday with a 46-point output two days later. With their top scorers out, the Texters turned to their two imports – American Steffphon Pettigrew and American-Jordanian Sam Daghles – and veteran forward Danny Seigle for both offensive firepower and defensive strength. Pettigrew led TNT with 33 points and 12 rebounds. Seigle added 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting while Daghles had 12 points, including key baskets in the endgame, plus a team-high five assists. Rookie Matt Ganuelas-Rosser chipped in 13 markers. The Kings trailed for most parts of the game but came back and grabbed the lead, 84-83, with seven minutes left. The Texters responded with an 11-0 run to take a 94-84 lead with less than two minutes left. Undaunted, the Kings countered with a 7-0 run capped by a huge three-pointer by Josh Urbiztondo. But the Texters ratcheted up their defense to halt the Kings' advance, pushing them to the bottom of the standings. Barako Bull 105, Blackwater 90 The Barako Bull Energy roared to their second straight victory, trouncing the Blackwater Elite, 105-90. The Energy pulled away as early as the first quarter and kept on burying the hapless Elite in an avalanche of points. Barako Bull led by as much as 26 points, 91-65, with less than 10 minutes left as they coasted along for another emphatic win. Seven-foot import Liam McMorrow once again was in dominant form, finishing with 23 points and 14 rebounds. Carlo Lastimosa added 18 points while JC Intal banged in 17 points on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 from three-point range, on top of seven rebounds and two assists. Marcus Douthit led the Elite with 21 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks. Brian Heruela, JP Erram and Bam Gamalinda added 12 points apiece. But all their efforts went down the drain as Blackwater collected its second straight loss, joining Ginebra and San Miguel at the bottom of the pile. Games Tuesday: Purefoods Star Hotshots vs. GlobalPort Batang Pier and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters vs. San Miguel Beermen.
