Talk 'N Text's two-week rest hardly slowed them down.

Getting a double-double from import Paul Harris and former two-time Philippine team member Ranidel de Ocampo, the Tropang Texters cooled down Air21 Express, 97-90, to take the headstart in their PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals series Friday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

Harris had a game-high 31 points and 14 rebounds, while De Ocampo tallied a conference-high 27 points and grabbed 12 boards to help the top-seeded team stretch its winning streak to nine dating back to the elimination round of the import-laden tournament.

The telecommunication franchise hadn't loss since March 2 when they suffered a 103-98 defeat at the hands of Pilipinas-Smart Gilas in its opening match.

In taking Game 1 of the best-of-five showdown, Talk 'N Text also extended its mastery over Air21, a team that hadn't beaten the Tropang Texters since escaping with a 112-111 win on June 13, 2008 in the Fiesta Confernce's second round of eliminations.

But the Express didn't just roll over and die in the midst of the Tropang Texters' bid to rip the game apart, where TNT led by 21 points three times, the last at 80-59.

Josh Urbiztondo waxed hot again from the outside, connecting four from three-point country, the last of which pushed the Express back into the game, 91-84, with 5:18 remaining.

But Harris scored back-to-back baskets, before Air21 went scoreless in the next three-and-a-half minutes.

By the time Air21 scored again on a Wynne Arboleda three-pointer with 1:45 left and a jumper by Alpha Bangura, it was 95-89 with 1:14 to go.

Bangura led the Express with 23 points, while Danny Seigle added 15.

The Express obviously missed Dondon Hontiveros' offensive spunk as the usually steady-shooting Cebuano had an off night to finish with only six points on a 2-of-7 shooting from the field.

Talk 'N Text was without big guard Jared Dillinger, who underwent surgery in the U.S. to repair a separated shoulder.

He won't be back in a Tropang Texters uniform until the playoffs of the season-ending Governors' Cup. - JVP, GMA News