PBA: Hot-shot Harris leads Talk 'N Text past San Mig Coffee

Paul Harris buried three of his nine three-pointers in the final three and a half minutes to lead the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters to a 92-88 victory over the San Mig Coffee Mixers, for a berth in the top four of the PBA Governors Cup playoffs on Friday night.

The 6’4” Harris refused to give up in the face of the Mixers’ strong second-half fightback, pouring in 20 of his PBA career-high 39 points in the last two quarters of a thrilling scrap at the Mall of Asia Arena.

He finished the game with a season-high nine three-pointers, topping the eight three-point baskets made by Air21 import Wesley Witherspoon during the Commissioner’s Cup, as Talk 'N Text improved to a league-best 6-2 record.

“I’m very pleased with the way the team responded today. But a lot of credit goes to Paul Harris, who really just shot the three-points very, very well and came out with the outstanding effort for today’s game,” said Talk ‘N Text coach Norman Black.

Pint-sized guard Jayson Castro also played a crucial role by completing two big steals inside the final minute of the first meeting between the two teams since San Mig Coffee beat Talk 'N Text, 3-1, in the 2014 Commissioner's Cup Finals.

The last of those steals was off a telegraphed pass by Marqus Blakely with 12 seconds to go and Talk ‘N Text holding on to an 90-85 lead.

The Mixers, who drew a PBA career-high tying 30 points from Joe Devance, found their march to an automatic top four berth derailed as they fell to a four-way tie for the second to fifth spots with Ginebra, Rain or Shine and Air21 at 5-3. - Richard Dy, SPIN


The scores:

TALK N' TEXT 92 - Harris 39, Castro 19, De Ocampo 12, Fonacier 9, Baclao 7, Williams 2, Carey 2, Canaleta 2, Reyes J. 0, Reyes R. 0

SAN MIG COFFEE 88 - Devance 30, Blakely 21, Barroca 10, Yap 9, Sangalang 7, Simon 6, Maliksi 3, Pingris 2, Mallari 0, Reavis 0

Quarter scoring: 31-21, 53-45, 68-70, 92-88