MANILA, Philippines—Powerade rolled over an unmanned Talk ’N Text  in a jarring 131-96 victory Sunday in the 2011 PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Gary David scored 27 points, Marcio Lassiter added 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists as the Tigers ended a 13-game losing skid to the Texters dating back to 2008.

Injuries seem to not bother Talk ‘N Text after all.

Despite missing its key players in a crucial game, the Tropang Texters continued its onslaught in the 2011-2012 PBA Philippine Cup, as guard Jason Castro lifted Talk ‘N Text to a 106-104 overtime victory over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Saturday at the Xavier University Gym in Cagayan de Oro.

Castro came up with a near triple-double, exploding for 21 points, seven rebounds and nine assists, including the game-winning basket with 1.8 seconds left in overtime to lead the defending champions to their sixth straight victory and grab the solo lead in the team standings with an 8-1 record.

Talk ‘N Text collides with Rain or Shine in a battle of tournament leaders in the 2011-12 PBA Philippine Cup Saturday at the Xavier University Gym in Cagayan de Oro.

The undermanned Tropang Texters square off with the Elasto Painters at 6:45 p.m. where at stake is the solo lead and the chance to boost their bid for the top two spots.

TNT is currently in the lead with a 7-1 mark while Rain or Shine is just half a game behind the defending champions with a 7-2 slate.

Tropang Texters head coach Chot Reyes said they are up for a stiff challenge against Rain or Shine mainly because of lack of personnel.

Published on November 18, 2011

Talk N’ Text aims to finish the elimination round in the top two spots and secure an outright semifinal berth in the 2011-12 PBA Philippine Cup. 

But considering their plight and their remaining schedule in the next four weeks, coach Chot Reyes said accomplishing their goal is a big question mark. 

“Hopefully we could win a couple more games. But we have a very tough schedule ahead. Right now everything is uncertain,” said Reyes, a five-time Coach of the Year.

Talk ‘N Text collides with Rain or Shine in a battle of tournament leaders in the 2011 PBA Philippine Cup Saturday at the Xavier University Gym in Cagayan de Oro.

The undermanned Tropang Texters square off with the Elasto Painters at 6:45 p.m. where at stake is the solo lead and the chance to boost their bid for the top two spots.

TNT is currently in the lead with a 7-1 mark while Rain or Shine is just half a game behind the defending champions with a 7-2 slate.

Tropang Texters head coach Chot Reyes said they are up for a stiff challenge against Rain or Shine mainly because of lack of personnel.

Talk ‘N Text encountered little trouble in dispatching Shopinas.com, 96-83, to stay on top of the 2011 PBA Philippine Cup Wednesday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

After Jason Castro and Japeth Aguilar put the game away early, the reserves did a good job of maintaining the lead as the Tropang Texters extended their winning streak to five games despite playing with a crippled lineup.

An undermanned Talk ‘N Text team battles winless Shopinas.com in the opener of the 2011-12 PBA Philippine Cup Wednesday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

The Tropang Texters and the Clickers square off at 5:15 p.m. with the former hoping to strengthen their hold of the top spot.

In the main tiff, Meralco and Powerade collide at 7:30 p.m.

Talk ‘N Text enters the game with a depleted roster but remains the favorite to prevail against Shopinas, which has yet to win in the PBA after nine starts.

Talk ‘N Text showcased a brave performance after stopping Powerade, 95-86, to grab a share of the lead of the 2011 PBA Philippine Cup Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

Already without Ali Peek after the shooting incident last Monday, the Tropang Texters lost another key player, Ryan Reyes, early in the fourth due to a suspected torn ACL, but leaned on their fighting heart to complete the come-from-behind victory.

It was the fourth straight win for Talk ‘N Text, which now joins Rain or Shine for the top spot of the tournament with a 6-1 win-loss mark.

But the victory came at a price, as Reyes has been added to the growing list of injured Tropang Texters. Jimmy Alapag (foot), Aaron Aban (ACL), Rich Alvarez (left hand) and Peek all missed the game due to injuries.

Talk 'N Text coach Chot Reyes admitted that the Tropang Texters played below expectations against the Powerade Tigers Wednesday night.

"We're not in playing condition after what happened to Ali (Peek) and I think it showed. It's a good thing the guys responded,"’ said Reyes after Talk 'N Text's 95-86 come-from-behind win over Powerade.

Already playing minus Jimmy Alapag and Ranidel De Ocampo, the Texters' rotation suffered another blow after Peek was shot Monday night following his training session at the RFM gym in Mandaluyong City.

Talk ‘N Text hopes that the shooting incident involving Ali Peek won’t be a distraction when it collides with Powerade in the main game of the 2011-12 PBA Philippine Cup Wednesday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

The Tropang Texters lost another big man in Peek, who was shot in the neck by an unidentified gunman Monday night after the player’s plyometric training session at the RFM Gymnasium in Mandaluyong City.

Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes said the 36-year old Peek is now out of danger but the bullet is still lodged on his neck and doctors at the Medical City are awaiting the decision of the relatives regarding the surgery.