B-Meg targets 3-1

Game today

Araneta Coliseum

6 p.m. – Talk N Text vs. B-Meg

The B-Meg Llamados shoot for a win that will put more pressure on the defending champions Talk N Text Tropang Texters as they square off in Game 3 of the 37th PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals at the Araneta Coliseum.

The two powerhouse teams split the first two games of the best-of-seven series before the Llamados took Game Three, 91-87, to go up, 2-1.

Denzel Bowles, who is likely to receive the Best Import accolade before tonight’s gigantic game, powered the Llamados to that crucial Game Three win where he came up with 28 points, including crucial baskets down the stretch.

Bowles was hounded by foul trouble in Game Three but it didn’t slow him down and even scored 10 points after committing his fifth foul late in the final quarter.

“He’s a mature young man at 22,” B-Meg coach Tim Cone told pba.ph. “Denzel came back with a monster game. He made the big shots. He showed maturity, not picking up his sixth foul until only four seconds left in the game.”

James Yap, Josh Urbiztondo and PJ Simon did a good job of backing up their import as the trio combined for an impressive 10-of-18 three-point shooting.

B-Meg is up in the series largely because of its tough defense. In its two victories, B-Meg held the high-scoring Talk N Text below 90 points while the Texters scored more than 100 points in their Game Two victory.

Talk N Text head coach Chot Reyes said Ranidel de Ocampo and Jimmy Alapag have to start putting up good numbers to improve the Texters’ chances of staying in the series.

“We’re not gonna beat B-Meg unless Ranidel and Jimmy come back from their early vacation,” said Reyes. “Josh Urbiztondo and Marc Pingris were disabusing Jimmy and Ranidel. Ranidel didn’t even take a single two-point shot. Jimmy couldn’t make his shots. That’s too much load for Ryan Reyes and Jayson Castro to carry,” Reyes said after their Game Three loss.