Talk ’N Text coach Chot Reyes says poor freethrow shooting was reason for losing Game 1

Game today:
Araneta Coliseum
6:45 p.m.- Talk ’N Text vs. B-Meg

The Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters showed resiliency in Game One by clawing back from double-digit deficits but eventually lost steam in the fourth period.

If they have to tie the series, the plan is simple: shoot well from the free throw line.

“You cannot win a game if you miss those free throws. If we had made (just) 50 percent of what we missed, we could have won by two. But that’s their job. I cannot shoot those for them,” said Texters head coach Chot Reyes in a pba.ph report after the 82-88 loss in Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

The defending champions seek for a series-tying victory when they meet the B-Meg Llamados tonight for Game 2 of the best-of-seven Finals at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Texters shot horribly from the charity line in Game 1, where they went 16-for-36.

“Ibinibigay na nga sa amin, kaya nga tinawag na ‘gift shots.’ Pero di namin tinanggap,” added Reyes.

B-Meg didn’t shoot well either.

“It was kind of a reversal,” said B-Meg coach Tim Cone, whose charges went 5-for-13 from the stripe in the fourth period. “In the first half, they missed 10 free throws.  We’re really lucky, for in the second half they started making and we started missing those free throws.”

Denzel Bowles was a monster in Game One for the Llamados, tallying 25 points and 11 rebounds.