Denzel Bowles fouled out with still 4.9 seconds left in the clock. But by that time, the towering import already did his job.
Showing nerves of steel, Bowles delivered big baskets and even bigger free throws to lift the B-Meg Llamados to a crucial 91-87 win over the defending champions Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters last night in Game Three of the 37th PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Bowles piled up 28 points, 13 rebounds, six blocked shots, four assists and two steals as the Llamados bounced back from a 104-102 Game Two loss and post a 2-1 lead in the race-to-four series.
Bowles scored 10 of his total points in the final 5:41 of the hotly contested battle, which drew 14,943 paying patrons.
B-Meg once again relied on its stingy defense to pull off the victory as it held Talk ’N Text to just four points in a crucial four-minute span in the closing stages of the game.
The Texters were up 77-74 in the final 6:06 mark when the Llamados went on an 11-4 run for an 86-81 lead with 1:21 remaining.
Talk ’N Text refused to simply go away as Castro’s two free throws brought them to within 84-86 with 34.1 seconds left.
Bowles then went steady from the stripe, completing two free throws to restore a four-point lead, 88-84.
The Texters again sliced the deficit to just two on a Jayson Castro layup but Bowles once again played the fireman’s role, sinking two more freebies.
Bowles committed his sixth and final foul in the next play—a foul that gave kept the door open for the Texters.
Jimmy Alapag was able to fake off Bowles and was fouled while about to take a three-pointer with 4.9 seconds left.
Alapag, however, missed the first free throw, made the next before intentionally missing the third attempt.