TnT lalapit sa korona: Target ang 3-0 lead kontra Rain or Shine

Game 1: Talk ‘N Text, 87-81

Game 2: Talk ‘N Text, 89-81

Laro Ngayon

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

6 p.m. Rain or Shine vs. Talk ‘N Text (Game 3)

MANILA, Philippines - Ang matayog na 3-0 bentahe sa kanilang cham­pionship series ang siyang pakay ng Tropang Texters sa pakikipagsalpukan sa Elasto Painters.

Magtatapat ang nagdedepensang Talk ‘N Text at ang Rain or Shine sa Game Three ngayong alas-6 ng gabi  sa kanilang best-of-seven titular showdown pa­ra sa 2012-2013 PBA Phil­ippine Cup sa Smart Ara­neta Coliseum.

Sa kabila ng kanilang ma­laking 2-0 kalamangan, sinabi ni Tropang Texters’ head coach Norman Black na hindi ito nangangahulugan na tinalo na nila sa ser­ye ang Elasto Painters ni mentor Yeng Guiao.

“We are up 2-0 but as far as I’m concerned it takes four wins to win a cham­pionship,” wika ni Black.

Tinalo ng Talk ‘N Text, asam ang kanilang ikatlong su­nod na Philippine Cup crown, ang Rain or Shine sa Game One, 87-81, at Game Two, 89-81.

Sa naturang tagumpay sa Game Two noong Biyernes, tumipa si 6-foot-6 cen­ter Ranidel De Ocampo ng game-high 24 points ka­sunod ang 21 ni Jayson Castro at 12 ni Kelly Williams.

“Ranidel is our best post-up player and best three-point shooter. He’s one of our best big men along with Kelly Williams. He’s been doing it the entire year,” ani Black kay De Ocam­po. “And that’s not only in his performance on the court but also in his lea­dership in the team.”

Inamin naman ni Guiao na masama ang kanilang field­goal shooting sa naka­raang dalawang laro.

“We’re still sturggling with our shooting percen­tages,” wika ni Guiao. “Shoo­ting-wise, we can’t get any shooting rythm going.”

Ayon kay Guiao, hindi sila nawawalan ng pag-asa na makakatabla sa serye at posibleng makamit ang kanilang ikalawang sunod na PBA crown matapos mag­kampeon sa nakaraang Governors Cup.

“We’re not losing any hope. 0-2 is still managable. If we don’t win on Sunday it’s lights out for us,” ani Guiao. “We are not going to give up this series just like that.”

Nawala din sa mga Elas­to Painters ang ka­nilang kum­­piyansa.

“It’s just a matter of gaining back our confidence offensively. Aside from that if we’ll be abe to get back on Sunday it wil still be a nice series going on,” sabi ni Guiao.