Raging Red Bull equalizes

Tony Lang atoned for his poor showing in Game One while his teammates picked up from where they left off as Red Bull slammed Talk N Text, 96-86, in the second game of their best-of-seven duel for the Samsung PBA Commissioner’s Cup championship at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

Lang, who struggled for only 14 points Friday, sizzled with 37 this time, and the Thunder regained their bullish ways, avenging their 100-102 defeat in the series opener.

Working on all cylinders, the Thunder rolled and roared on this rainy Sunday night, leading by as many as 20 points in the fourth quarter before sealing the emphatic victory that sent the series back to scratch.

The two teams clash in Game Three Wednesday also at the Big Dome.

"We really wanted to redeem ourselves dahil medyo masama ang pagkatalo namin in Game One. Depensa ang naging malaking puhunan namin. We got lucky on our three-point shooting, ran the breaks well and did well at the posts. But I think it was really our defense that killed them," said Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao.

"Julius (Nwosu) asked for Pete Mickeal (on defense) and he did a good job. Talagang kinayod niya.Then Tony Lang carried us on offense. Eh, iyun talaga ang pamatay naming kombinasyon," Guiao added.

Talking it out Saturday after their sorry loss Friday, the Thunder came out smoking, opening double-digit spreads right in the opening quarter.

The reigning champions wavered a bit in the second quarter but still held a 46-42 halftime lead which they increased to 76-64 after another quarter.

Then, they poured it all in the last canto with Willie Miller and Junthy Valenzuela firing killer three-pointers while Lang, Nwosu and Davonn Harp attacking furiously at the paint as the Thunder ripped the game apart at 89-69.

In a reversal of roles, it’s the duo of Lang and Nwosu who outclassed their Talk N Text counterparts this time. Lang proved unstoppable, going 11-of-16 from the two-point zone, 1-of-1 from the three-point area while sending practically all the Talk N Text big men to early foul-trouble situation.

Nickeal, fouled out with 7:11 left to play. He was held down to 20 points by Nwosu.

Vic Pablo didn’t commit a single foul but headed to the showers early, complaining tremendous pain on his right knee.

Harp had a double-double performance with 18 points and 11 rebounds, Nwosu tallied 12 points, eight rebounds, four assists and and three blocks while Miller and Valenzuela combined for an impressive 7-off-10 shooting from beyond the arc.