Texters rip Hotshots, tie series

TALK ‘N Text spitfire Jayson Castro lays it up off Purefoods’ Peter Jun Simon in last night’s still unfinished Game 2 at the Big Dome. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Blowing hot at the start and even hotter in the end, Talk ‘N Text pulled away from Purefoods in the final eight minutes for a 93-77 win Monday night that squared their PBA Commissioner’s Cup Final Four series after two games at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Tropang Texters, who failed to recover from a cold start in Game 1, opened strong and then blitzed the defending champion Star Hotshots with a 26-7 closing salvo to transform the series into a virtual best-of-three and wrest momentum going into Thursday’s tiebreaker.

Point guards Kevin Alas, a rookie, and the veteran Jason Castro took turns in hitting the shots that stung the Hotshots, who led for the last time at 70-67 going into the final 8:01 before being limited to sporadic baskets until the final buzzer.

Alas hit back-to-back treys to touch off the Texters’ swashbuckling finish, which was highlighted by seven straight Castro points that opened up an 87-77 lead and had Purefoods coach Tim Cone virtually throwing in the white towel with still 1:21 left.

“This win gives us a fair chance at the finals (berth),” Talk ‘N Text coach Jong Uichico said.

Castro finished with 21 points and paced all Talk ‘N Text shooters, while Ivan Johnson scattered 16 on top of 20 boards. He also got engaged in a cursing match with Purefoods star Marc Pingris that started on the floor and spilled over on their way to their respective locker rooms.

READ: Pingris, TNT import Johnson get chippy in semis Game 2

“Emotions are kind of high, especially in a series like this,” Uichico said. “It’s going to happen because teams are trying to find ways to win. We can’t tell our players to back down and Purefoods will not back down.”

Denzel Bowles, who carried the Hotshots in the series opener on Saturday, fired 35 and, like what Cone had feared after Game 1, sputtered in the stretch and shot only two points in the last period.

Four more locals tossed in at least 10 for Uichico.

Meanwhile, Rain or Shine guns for a sweep of a beleaguered Meralco side Tuesday, also at the Big Dome, for a place in the title series.

Game time is 7 p.m. with the Elasto Painters hoping to stay unbeaten in the playoffs and wrap up the best-of-five Final Four duel.

“We will put all our energy into (the) Tuesday (game),” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao after a 92-82 victory gave them a 2-0 lead on Sunday night.

The scores:

TALK ‘N TEXT 93—Castro 21, Johnson 16, De Ocampo 14, Washington 12, Alas 12, Fonacier 10, Carey 2, Williams 2, Rosser 2, Aban 2.

PUREFOODS 77—Bowles 35, Yap 15, Simon 10, Pennisi 5, Maliksi 3, Devance 3, Reavis 2, Mallari 2, Barroca 2, Melton 0, Pingris 0.

Quarters: 21-13, 40-34, 59-57, 93-77