PASSI, Iloilo -- A  new import, a new hope for Talk N Text.

Talk N Text unveiled a new import in Marqus Blakey  to bring down debuting Rain or Shine,  110-104,  in  the  PBA Governor’s Cup  out-of-town  encounter  here Saturday.

Blakely  turned  out to be  what  the Tropang Texters  needed to get back on the winning track while spoiling the debut of the Elasto Painters in this season-ending tournament.

Blakely, who previously played  for Purefoods, finished with 26 points, 14  rebounds, eight assists and three  steals  in 39  minutes of action to help the  Texters  overcome  the  challenge of  the E-Painters.

Troy  Rosario added 24 points, inclduing six three-point shots,  while  Terrence  Romeo contributed 22 points, five  rebounds and five assists for Talk N Text, whichimproved to 3-4.

J-Nathan  Bullock had 23 points, five rebounds and five assists  and  James Yap added  21 points  for Rain or  Shine, which fell behind by several doubel-digit deficits   before   coming  back strong to  make the game interesting.

Meanwhile, unbeaten Magnolia  battles  Phoenix  and  defending champion Barangay Ginebra  meets San Miguel Beer  in a pair of explosive matches today at  the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Hotshots gun for their third straight  win when they meet the Fuel Masters  in the 4:30 p.m. encounter.

“Defensively, we have to be ready for everybody because right now everybody steps up on their game,” said  Magnolia coach Chito Victolero, whose Hotshots plunge into action after a long break.

Both the Hotshots and the Fuel Masters are coming off back-to-back wins, but Victolero reminded  his players to keep their focus  because  this will be  only their first game  since   their  104-87  win over winless  NorthPort last  Sept 1, or a few  days before  the  league took a  long  break to give way to the FIBA 2019  World Cup Qualifiers.

“Coming from a long break, we need to start strong. We experienced this last conference and we hope we learned from that,” said Victolero, who  recalled  a similar  situation  in the last Commissioner’s Cup.

“Phoenix was playing very well lately,  we need to be sharp and focus for 48 minutes. And we also expect a very physical game,” added Victolero.
 
The Louie Alas-mentored Fuel Masters  have also won their last two outings -- 96-86 vs Meralco last Sept 19 and 112-82 against Talk ‘N Text last Aug. 31.

The scores:

Talk  N Text (110) -- Blakely 26, Rosario 24, Romeo 22, Pogoy 14, Garcia 6, Williams 6, Cruz 5, Carey 4, Trollano 3, Reyes 0, Semerad 0.

Rain or Shine  (104) --   Bullock 23, Yap 21, Norwood 12, Torres 9, Almazan 8, Belga 6, Ponferada 6, Onwubere 4, Tiu 4, Nambatac 3, Daquioag 3, Maiquez 2, Borboran 2, Casiño 0.

Quarterscores:  18-23, 45-49, 89-78, 110-104.

Ed Andaya