TNT clinches first semis seat with win over San Miguel

Talk ‘N Text (TNT) clinched the first automatic semifinal slot with an 85-82 squeaker over San Miguel Beer (SMB) Saturday night in the KFC-PBA Fiesta Cup at the Victorias City Sports & Amusement Center in Victorias City, Negros Occidental.

Ranidel de Ocampo had 7 of his 17 points in the last 5 minutes of the game that helped the Tropang Texters extend their winning streak to 13 games.

De Ocampo also finished with 7 rebounds and 6 assists as TNT avenged its 106-112 overtime loss to San Miguel last March 31, the last time the Texters tasted defeat in the season-ending conference.
Harvey Carey contributed 15 points for TNT, which solidified its hold on top spot with a 14-2 win-loss mark.

Danny Seigle led the Beermen with 21 points and was responsible for giving his team a 74-69 lead with a 3-point play off Shawn Daniels, 5:23 left in the game.

De Ocampo’s back-to-back jumpers and Jimmy Alapag’s 3-pointer at the top of the key reclaimed the lead for TNT at 76-74.

After SMB guard Alex Cabagnot split his free throws and TNT forward Kelly Williams made his 2 bonus shots, 79-75, De Ocampo drilled another huge shot, a 3-pointer, to give the Texters an 81-75 cushion with 1:16 remaining.

But Seigle put his team back quickly as he completed another 3-point play off Williams and followed up Cabagnot’s missed drive to pull SMB within 1, 80-81, 42.8 seconds left.

The Beermen, however, wasted the opportunity to steal the game when Cabagnot was called for an offensive foul after pushing Jared Dillinger in an inbound play.

That paved the way for 2 more free throws for Alapag on Joseph Yeo’s foul, 85-82, and Santos’ game-tying 3-point attempt was way off the mark.

TNT’s 13-game winning streak now tied Barangay Ginebra’s run in the 2008 Fiesta Cup. The Kings went on to win the title.

For San Miguel, it was its 2nd straight defeat but they stayed in the No. 2 spot with a 11-4 mark. It is now a full game ahead of the B-MEG Derby Ace (10-5).

The Beermen played without import Gabe Freeman due to flu.

The scores:

Talk ‘N Text 85 – De Ocampo 17, Alapag 15, Carey 15, Dillinger 12, Williams 10, Cardona 5, Daniels 4, Yee 3, Reyes 2, Castro 2.

San Miguel Beer 82 – Seigle 21, Washington 16, Santos 11, Cabagnot 7, Yeo 7, Hontiveros 7, Villanueva 6, Ildefonso 5, Pena 2, Pennisi 0.

Quarterscores: 20-20, 42-36, 59-63, 85-82