Texters ready for physical Game 3

Game today:

Araneta Coliseum

7 p.m.- Talk ‘N Text vs. Petron

BLOOD SHED in Game 2. But if this is what it takes to complete a three-peat, the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters are more than willing to absorb blows from their opponent.

They, however, vowed to hit back.

“The only way we’re going to win is if we play as physical. If they’re gonna throw cheap shots, we’re gonna give it right back at them. We should hit them harder,” warned Talk ‘N Text head coach Chot Reyes.

Tension gripped Game 2 and its going to be more intense when the Texters and the Petron Blaze Boosters dispute a crucial 2-1 series lead in Game 3 of the 36th PBA Governors’ Cup Best-of-Seven Finals at the Araneta Coliseum today.

The Texters tied things up with a fight-marred 105-83 win against the Boosters last Wednesday at the Mindanao Civic Center in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

The game featured three ejections and several hard fouls.

Talk ‘N Text’s Ali Peek and Mark Yee and Petron’s Jojo Duncil were thrown out after they figured in an extreme shouting and shoving match late in the second period.

Texter Ranidel de Ocampo sustained a cut on the head after Mick Pennisi tagged him with a hard foul while driving to the basket.

Jason Castro also sprawled on the foul after receiving a hard foul from Alex Cabagnot that triggered a near free-for-all.

Even the mild-mannered Hector Calma, Petron’s team manager, was assessed with a technical foul for unsportsmanlike conduct following that near fracas.

“One thing that we wanted to do here in Game Two was to come out with a lot of physicality because they’re really beating us in giving us really rough fouls and hard fouls. It was seen here today,” Reyes said after the win that allowed the Texters to recover from their sorry 88-89 Game 1 loss.

The Texters came out firing in the third quarter that saw them breaking the game open after trailing by as many as 10 points in the first half.

“At the half, I asked my players if they’re scared because we’re not going to win this series playing like sissies,” Reyes added.“We manned up; we became stronger; and we took it right through them because this is war.”

Jason Castro led Talk ‘N Text’s big Game 2 win by scoring 24 points, 11 coming in the pivotal third. Scottie Reynolds added 18 markers. EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA