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| Jayson Castro caught fire, hitting eight treys to lead TNT to the big win. (image by Sherwin Vardeleon/CNN Philippines) |
Game recap (adapted from Interkasyon):
TALK N TEXT TROPANG TEXTERS over PUREFOODS STAR HOTSHOTS, 111-107
Box scores.
The Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters took a huge step closer to making the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals after beating defending champion Purefoods, 111-107, for a second straight game in their best-of-five semifinal series on Thursday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Jayson Castro finished with 27 points and 10 assists to lead Talk ‘N Text, while import Ivan Johnson posted 26 points and 14 rebounds in a crucial win that gave the team a 2-1 lead.
Talk ‘N Text is now one win away from joining Rain or Shine in the championship round.
Castro knocked down eight of his nine three-point attempts, including a dagger right outside the final minute, as the Tropang Texters shot 19-for-32, good for 59.4%, from long range.
Ranidel De Ocampo went 4-for-5 from long range to finish with 14 points, while Johnson connected on three triples.
Aaron Aban also had a big game for Talk ‘N Text, finishing with 17 points off the bench. Eight of those came in the first quarter as he helped Castro anchor the Tropang Texters’ offense.
The pair combined to score 20 of the team’s 32 first quarter points.
The first half was a high-scoring affair that played to Talk ‘N Text’s strengths. With Castro, who had 18 points and five assists, leading the way, the Tropang Texters jumped out to a three-point lead, 63-60, at halftime.
Despite Johnson sitting a good part of the third due to foul trouble, Talk ‘N Text continued to roll, extending their lead to nine points, 89-80, on a buzzer-beater from Castro.
Purefoods import Denzel Bowles, who finished with 39 points, already had 31 at the end of three quarters.
PJ Simon, who was red-hot for Purefoods in the fourth quarter, and Bowles combined to score the first five points of the period. A Mark Barroca three-pointer minutes later brought them back to within three points, 93-90, as the Hotshots got off to a strong start.
Talk ‘N Text’s three-point shooting, though, was big for them as Johnson, Castro and Ranidel De Ocampo all knocked down threes in a run that made it a double-digit lead, 102-92, with 6:27 remaining.
Purefoods would continue to threaten, but the Hotshots just couldn’t overhaul the deficit.
Bowles finished with 39 points and 13 rebounds to pace Purefoods, while PJ Simon dropped 18 markers.
Line of the Game: Jayson Castro (TNT) - 27pts, 10asts, 3rebs, 1stl, 8 triples, 9/14 FGs.
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