(PBA images)
TALK ‘N TEXT eliminated Rain or Shine, 69-52, and secured its place in the 15U division of the 2025 Batang PBA age-group tournament on Tuesday at the CCF Gym in Pasig.
John Steven Moraga scored 12 of his team-high 19 points in the third quarter to give the debuting Batang Tropang 5G a comfortable 19 point advantage en route to the victory that gave idle San Miguel Beer a free ride to the Final Four.
MC Dijon Fontanilla also made his presence felt for the Batang Tropang 5G with 11 points. TNT and SMB face-off on Thursday tol dispute the top seeding in Group B.
NorthPort also emerged victorious in the other 15U match at the expense of Terrafirma, 81-74, in Group Group A.
Arkin Ogoc and Rashed Membrot topscored for NorthPort with 18 points each but it was Ivann Miguel Gumatay, who took the fight away from Terrafirma.
Gumatay scored nine of his 12 points in the third quarter as the Batang Pier, outscored the Batang Dyip, 20-10, to turn a four point deficit into a six point lead that held on to the end.
NorthPort shoots for a semis spot against the winless Phoenix (0-1) on Wednesday.
In the 13U division, Magnolia escaped past Meralco, 56-55, in Group A while Blackwater bounced back from Monday’s defeat with a 57-53 win over NLEX in Group B.
Gener Dimagan tallied a game-high 18 points including 10 in the fourth quarter as the Batang Hotshots erased a 42-31 deficit to steal victory.
Joakim Emmanuel Se had another big game, finishing with 28 points as the Batang Bossing (1-1) bounced back from a 68-62 loss against Converge to stay in contention for semifinal seat.
The Scores:
First Game (15U)
NorthPort 81 – Ogoc 18, Membrot 18, Gumatay 12, Acera 7, Acbo 6, Solidum 5, Cillo 3, Jacinto 2, Ghazwan 2, Aguinaldo 1, Del Rosario 0.
Terrafirma 74 – Mangrobang 24, De Guzman 15, Cortez 10, Aguilar 7, Ya?ez 6, Armas 5, De Leon 5, Mallari 2, Redo?a 0, Vicente 0, Rondina 0, Lagaya 0.
Quarterscores: 26-20, 41-45, 61-55, 81-74.
Second Game (13U)
Blackwater 57 – Se 28, Jadera 20, Mayoyo 3, Ong 3, Hallare 2, Purugganan 1, Ebarvia 0, Villaruz 0, Simon 0.
NLEX 53 – Sandico 19, Tamundong 10, Santos 8, Arboleda 7, Peroramas 5, Gallante 2, Dayaon 2, Villa 0.
Quarterscores: 6-16, 23-20, 42-36, 57-53.
Third Game (13U)
Magnolia 56 – Dimagan 18, Palaganas 12, Laygo 8, Corral 6, Yba?ez 6, Basinilio 2, Torres 2, Masipag 1, Etorma 0, Tulfo 0, Castro 0, Jaylo 0.
Meralco 55 – Cabantog 17, Lugue L. 14, Lebron 10, Clarica 7, Lugue K. 5, Peralta 2, Carpina 0, Posada 0, Flores 0, Balios 0.
Quarterscores: 10-10, 14-27, 31-42, 56-55.
Fourth Game (15U)
Talk ‘N Text 69 – Moraga 19, Fontanilla 11, Del Rosario 9, Tumamak 7, Pazcoguin 6, Jacinto 6, Basinilio 5, Calpe 2, Zablan 2, Lee 2, Alama 0.
Rain or Shine 52 – Navarro 10, Senesan 8, Centeno 6, Gravoso 6, Rucio 6, Condez 6, Perez 4, Taga?a 3, Morales 3, Santiago 0, Turla 0.
Quarterscores: 23-20, 40-28, 54-35, 69-52.
