Texters send title series to the limit

MANILA, Philippines - Talk n Text relit the flame of its grand slam dream as the Tropang Texters stopped the Petron Blaze Boosters’ smoldering charge, 104-78, in another power shift forcing a winner-take-all match in the PBA Governors Cup finals last night.

With tremendous boost they received from original import Maurice Baker and combo guard Jason Castro, the Tropang Texters recalled their championship form, overwhelming the Boosters and their cheering throngs at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Talk n Text pounded Petron with baskets practically from all over in another blowout win that forged a deciding Game Seven tomorrow in the same venue.

“All we did was tie the series. We came in tonight wanting to play 96 good minutes. We achieved the first half of it and now we’ve got to find a way to get the second half,” said Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes.

Baker churned out a double-double game in reclaiming his old spot on the team and Castro played an even bigger game, enduring a right strained knee to spark their breakaway.

“I was really feeling the pain, but the adrenalin rush carried me on,” said Castro who electrified and energized the Texters by exploding with 13 first-quarter points coming off the bench four minutes into the game.

Playing with a brace on his injured right knee, Castro saw action for 21 minutes and produced a total of 19 points, six rebounds and the same number of assists.

“We’re not able to stop Jason, and worse, we hardly got anything from Anthony Grundy,” rued Petron coach Ato Agustin.

Baker logged 18 points, 11 rebounds and three assists as against Grundy’s five points, five assists and four rebounds.

“Baker has fresh legs and so Talk n Text has a big advantage in that aspect. But we’re not complaining about that. We’re allowed to change import up to the last game of the tourney,” said Agustin.

Pushed to the brink following losses in Games Four and Five, Talk n Text stayed alive while also getting brilliant performances from Ranidel de Ocampo and Jimmy Alapag.

De Ocampo led all scorers with 21 points while Alapag also put up double-double numbers with 16 points and 10 assists.

Castro, however, was the big sentimental hero.

He came out with guns ablaze, going 3-of-3 from the beyond the arc and 2-of-2 from the two-point zone to fuel a run enabling Talk n Text to establish early double-digit spreads at 33-23 and 35-25.

The Boosters actually started stronger, but Castro provided the impetus that saw the momentum shift in favor of the Texters, who took the half at 55-43.

The final half was all about the Texters.

Castro, Ocampo, Alapag, Kelly Williams, and Ryan Reyes combined for a remarkable 9-of-13 three-point shooting that gave the Texters a first-half lead of as many as 13.

The Texters also had an efficient effort on the other end of the court, holding Grundy scoreless in the first 27 minutes of play.

“All we wanted from Baker was to defend Grundy. That he was able to contribute on offense was a bonus,” said Reyes.

 Baker, Castro and De Ocampo strung up 11 unanswered points that had Talk n Text surging ahead at 22-16.