With their best-of-seven series for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup again tied and tensions running high, Talk ‘N Text and Rain or Shine gun for the pivotal win in Game 5 of what has turned into a race-to-two affair at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
The Tropang Texters will have the momentum on their side in the 7 p.m. clash after a 99-92 victory on Wednesday night that knotted the best-of-seven series at 2-all and cost some players heavy fines and the suspension of Rain or Shine’s JR Quiñahan in the wake of the rugged contest.
The Office of the Commissioner slapped P40,000 penalties on Talk ‘N Text rookie Matt Ganuelas-Rosser and veteran Rain or Shine swingman Jireh Ibañes and a P50,000 fine on Quiñahan for throwing the ball at Rosser’s face that nearly ignited a free-for-all with 9:47 left in the last quarter.
Quiñahan was banned from Friday’s contest, leaving coach Yeng Guiao with one less wide-bodied slotman to try to contain Ivan Johnson.
Part of Quiñahan’s fine was the P10,000 for taking a fighting stance against Johnson.
For Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao, beating the Texters seems simple enough if import Wayne Chism can avoid picking up fouls early.
“We just need Wayne to be a little cautious with the fouls,” Guiao said. “Sometimes I can’t really blame him because this is the Finals.
“That’s the way they (Texters) can win, they need to have our import in foul trouble.”
Chism, named earlier Wednesday night as the conference’s Best Import, was on the floor for only 26 minutes in Game 4 and finished with just 13, his lowest in the series.
“We just tied the series and lived to fight another day,” Talk ‘N Tex coach Jong Uichico said after the rugged Game 4 win where Ranidel de Ocampo and Jason Castro scored 20 points each in the final two quarters for the Tropang Texters.
Rain or Shine has fielded so many men to mark Castro, who got away with 25 points in Game 4. De Ocampo scored 33, tying his career-high.
Talk ‘N Text lost the previous two games when Chism was able to stay out of foul trouble.
Paul Lee will again be the main local for Guiao, though Chris Tiu scored a career-high 21 on Wednesday night.
Jeff Chan, Rain or Shine’s main outside gun, sat out Game 4 because of a recurring leg injury but could be called upon to play today.