Texters a win from title slot

TNT court general Jason Castro aborts a drive to make a pass off Purefoods’ Denzel Bowles in last night’s hard-fought Game 3 of their Final Four series at Smart Araneta Coliseum. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Jason Castro scored 27 points built around an 8-of-9 clip from beyond the arc last night and towed Talk ‘N Text to a 111-107 Game 3 victory over Purefoods that put the Tropang Texters within another win of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup title series at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Castro dominated the night after he was enshrined as one of the 40 Greatest Players of the league ever, leading the Texters to the win that gave them—at least in the last three best-of-five series they are paired against—the chance to close out the Star Hotshots.

The fleet-footed point guard made all his last seven triple attempts and four others finished in twin digits. As a team, Talk ‘N Text dropped a total of 19 triples on the Hotshots.

“Tough, tough game. It’s always like that against Purefoods,” Talk ‘N Text coach Jong Uichico later told reporters. “The first half was a scoring game and the second was a defensive one.

The potential series-clinching game is slated tomorrow, also at the Big Dome in Cubao, and a win by the Texters in the 5 p.m. match would shove them into a best-of-seven series for the championship against first finalist Rain or Shine.

Talk ‘N Text played Purefoods, then known as San Mig Coffee, in three series last year where the Mixers completed a Grand Slam.

Meanwhile, an American who was instrumental in establishing awareness of the NBA in the region, an active player, and a sportscaster head the short list of six candidates the PBA board of governors will consider for the post of the league’s next commissioner.

Mark Fisher, Talk ‘N Text cager Danny Seigle, lawyer-broadcaster Charlie Cuna, as well as PBA operations manager Rickie Santos, Naascu organizer Jay Adalem and former player Vince Hizon make up the remaining candidates for the demanding job.

The scores:

TALK ‘N TEXT 111—Castro 27, Johnson 26, Aban 17, De Ocampo 14, Washington 10, Alas 9, Williams 6, Rosser 2, Fonacier 0.

PUREFOODS 107—Bowles 39, Simon 18, Yap 11, Pingris 10, Devance 9, Barroca 8, Reavis 4, Mallari 4, Maliksi 4.

Quarters: 32-33, 63-60, 89-80, 111-107