Texters end Llamados' PHL Cup title defense bid

Talk 'N Text made sure a new Philippine Cup champion will be crowned this season. The Tropang Texters ended B-Meg Derby Ace's bid of becoming the first repeat champion in the Philippine Cup, coasting to an 89-72 win Friday night to clinch the first Finals berth in the season-opening tournament.

TNT's deep bench again made the difference in the Game 6 victory as the telecommunication franchise ended the best-of-seven semifinals series, 4-2, at the Araneta Coliseum. by Jason Castro and unheralded Aaron Aban, Talk 'N Text's bench outscored its Derby Ace counterparts for the second straight time, 54-25. The Tropang Texters also did the same against the Llamados, 68-11, in Wednesday’s Game 5 win. "I think in the end it was our depth that pulled us through in this series. Everybody talks about our ability to score, but we won this series with defense," said Chot Reyes shortly after guiding the team to its ninth championship appearance in the last 15 years and fourth in a tournament without imports. Reyes himself will be in his 11th Finals stint and second with the franchise. The Tropang Texters won the all-Filipino title in 2003 and 2009, but never made the Finals of the last two conferences. They now await the winner of the other semifinals series between sister teams Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel. Castro had another brilliant offensive night with 18 points, while Aban contributed a personal conference-high of 14 points behind 7-of-8 field goal shooting besides having the tough assignment of putting the cuffs on Llamados ace gunner James Yap. Ali Peek led Talk 'N Text with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Losing a 16-point lead in the first half, the Tropang Texters put the outcome of the game beyond doubt by pouring in 31 points in the third period. That big scoring outburst enabled them to stretch a 42-35 halftime spread to 73-53 entering the fourth. A Ranidel De Ocamp break-away lay-up gave the top-seeded team its largest lead at 81-57 with 6:08 left in the contest. James Yap finished with 16 points to lead the scoring for the Llamados, who failed to duplicate the feat of the 1984-85 Great Taste team that was the last squad to repeat as All-Filipino champions in the league’s 36-year history. But coach Jorge Gallent said the franchise has nothing to be ashamed of, especially after reaching as far as the semifinals despite a slow start and losing two of their big starters in Kerby Raymundo and Rafi Reavies to injuries. "Nothing to frown about," he said. “We started so bad but we still reached this far. It was a great accomplishment for me and this team. We did a good job. We never quit." – JVP, KY, GMANews.TV