Talk N’ Text squares PBA finals series with Rain or Shine at 2-2

Talk N’ Text survived a skirmish-marred game and upended Rain or Shine, 99-92, to tie the best-of-seven series of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals at 2-2 Wednesday evening at Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

A fight ensued in the 9:47 mark of the fourth that saw three players leave the playing court.

READ: Fight breaks out in Talk N’ Text-Rain or Shine Finals

Texters head coach Jong Uichico said the physicality of the series should not be described as “physical” anymore, “it’s rough already.”

“It’s rough basketball, if you call it basketball,” Uichico said. “This is different ‘intense,’ it’s borderline almost having a brawl every single moment.”

The Texters were leading 80-72 when rookie Matt Ganuelas-Rosser pushed Painters guard Jireh Ibañes to first row of the audience in the baseline when the physicality boiled over to roughness.

Ibañes, who was leaning against the barricade, got hold of Rosser’s jersey which he stripped away.

Quiñahan then threw the ball straight to the face of Rosser, sparking the bench-clearing incident. The Painters head coach Yeng Guiao positioned himself in an attacking stance against Texters import Ivan Johnson. Araneta security and police officers in the area quickly intercepted to restore order.

A flagrant 2 was called on Quiñahan while Ibañes and Rosser were charged for fighting.

“It was a tough game…and it’s just getting more physical,” Uichico said.

Talk N’ Text capitalized on the foul trouble woes of Painters import Wayne Chism as it recklessly attacked the paint.

Chism was benched majority of the first half due to his fouls and wound up finishing with four.

Rain or Shine couldn’t find their offensive rhythm without their Best Import as the ElastoPainters only managed a two-point, 16-14, lead as their biggest margin in the game.

Chris Tiu put Rain or Shine within nine points of Talk N’ Text, 92-83, in the fourth but a layup from Jayson Castro and a triple from Ranidel de Ocampo with 1:35 left made it 97-83 and virtually sealed the 2-2 series tie.

De Ocampo went on a roll with 33 points, tying his career playoff high, most of which came off isolation plays.

Castro added 25 points, six assists, and two steals while Johnson had 19 points and 10 boards.

Uichico said the plays of De Ocampo and Castro were not his design, but he allowed his players to exploit what the defense gave.

“It’s not my design, whenever they see that they have and advantage, they will use that to score,” Uichico said.

Chris Tiu led the Painters with a career-high 21 points with Paul Lee adding 17 points and Chism finishing with 13.

The scores:

TALK N’ TEXT 99 – De Ocampo 33, Castro 25, Johnson 19, Fonacier 10, Washington 4, Alas 4, Williams 2, Rosser 2, Carey 0, Aban 0.

RAIN OR SHINE 92 – Tiu 21, Lee 17, Chism 13, Almazan 13, Arana 8, Ibanes 6, Cruz Jervy 4, Uyloan 3, Norwood 3, Belga 2, Quinahan 2, Cruz Jericho 0.