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THE Talk N Text Tropang Texters and the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings gave themselves a fitting Christmas present with gripping wins last Thursday in the Christmas Day spectacle of the 34th PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Tropang Texters secured the last automatic semifinal ticket after edging the Air21 Express, 109-108, while the Kings clinched an outright quarterfinal berth by tripping Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters, 63-58.
Ranidel de Ocampo, who played his second game since he was shipped by Air21 to Talk N text in favor of Don Allado, connected on a 19-foot jumper at the buzzer, pushing the Tropang Texters to the Final Four along with the Alaska Aces.
Coming off a timeout and with just 2.1 ticks remaining on the clock, the 6-foot-6 de Ocampo got the inbound pass from rookie Jason Castro, took one dribble going to his left to evade JR Quinahan before unleashing his game-winning shot over the outstretched arms of Nino Canaleta.
The Tropang Texters, who have not advanced past the wildcard phase in the two conferences last season, finished their elimination campaign with an 11-7 (win-loss) record, which earned them at least a playoff for the second outright semifinal seat.
Talk ’N Text head coach Chot Reyes expressed satisfaction with his team’s effort, particularly de Ocampo, who the Tropang Texters’ got via a trade with Air21 for veteran big man Don Allado and a first round pick in the 2012 PBA Rookie Draft.
“By some sheer twist of providence, we ran that same play for Ranidel during practice (last Wednesday) with two seconds left,” Reyes said. “Little did we know that we’ll find ourselves with the same situation.”
“We ran decoys for Mac-Mac (Cardona), Renren (Ritualo) and Jimmy (Alapag), but Ranidel was our first option,” he added.
De Ocampo finished with 18 points and a career high-tying 16 rebounds with two assists while Alapag led the team with 23 points.
The Express, relegated into the knockout wildcard playoffs opposite the Purefoods Giants, finished the eliminations with an 8-10 record.
Gary David gave his team a one-point lead, 108-107, with his split free throws when Castro fouled him while attempting a jumpshot with 2.1 seconds. He was a perfect 8-of-8 from the foul line before missing his first foul shot.
David led the Express with 23 points, while Allado had a personal conference-high 18 markers in only his second game with his new team. Arboleda and Egay Billones added 14 and 12 respectively.
Talk N Text's trip to the semis was only sealed when Ginebra defeated Rain Or Shine in the next game.
A Rain Or Shine victory could have forged a playoff between the Elasto Painters and the Tropang Texters.
“Talagang merry ang Christmas," said Ginebra head coach Jong Uichico after the win. “At the start of the conference, we're just thinking of surviving. Now we're in a spot everybody wants to be in if you miss the outright semis,” Uichico added.
The Kings even claimed the top seeding in the quarters with a better quotient than the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Sta. Lucia Realtors. The three teams finished tied at third with identical 10-8 win-loss card.
Barangay Ginebra will slug it out in the other best-of-3 quarterfinal against the lone survivor from the wildcard playoffs.
Slugging it out on Sunday at the start in the knockout wildcard games are Coca-Cola versus San Miguel Beer, and Air21 against Purefoods, with both series starting at once this Sunday at the Big Dome.
