For a series loaded with equal parts intensity and animosity, it was only fitting that the Commissioner’s Cup finals series between Talk ’N Text and B-Meg go the distance, and a winner-take-all Game 7 be played.
And that is where the Texters and the Llamados find themselves as they duel for all the marbles in the game set at 6 tonight at what is expected to be a raucous and rowdy Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Talk ’N Text staved off elimination and an early knockout punch by B-Meg in Game 6 with a 92-82 win that sent this much-watched series to the rubbermatch.
Speedster Jayson Castro came alive to spark the Texters as he scored a team-high 25 points, most of which came in the final quarter when the Llamados tried to come back after leading, 14-5, early in the game.
Unlike the Llamados, which was basically a two-man team composed of import Denzel Bowles, who scored 33, and James Yap, who added 27, the Texters had plenty to go around with Jared Dillinger contributing 16 and Ranidel de Ocampo breaking out of his slump to chip in 15.
Ryan Reyes and import Donnell Harvey each had 11 to spark the Texters.
Tropang Texters head coach Chot Reyes was pretty clear on what his team needed to do in order to come away with the title and keep the dream for a rare grandslam this season alive.
“We need to shoot well in Game Seven,” said Reyes during the postgame press conference. Another pivotal factor in Game 6 were the 14 three pointers that the Texters made that virtually gave them the much-needed win.