Pivotal Game 3 of PBA Finals today

Game today:
Smart-Araneta
8 p.m. – San Mig Coffee vs. Talk N Text

Jayson Castro of Talk ‘N Text goes for a shot underneath in Game 2 of their best-of-five series against San Mig Coffee. (PBA Images)

With this final’s encounters tied at 1-1, expect a war of attrition to ensue as the San Mig Coffee Mixers and the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters clash in Game Three of the best-of-five championship series in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, tonight at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

After the Mixers drew first blood with a dominant 95-80 win in the series opener, the Texters fought back behind the offensive explosion of guard Jayson Castro to win Game Two, 86-76, last Sunday and set the stage for this pivotal match, one that would see the winner move within a win away from the crown.

Castro more than made up for his offensive woes in Game One as he pumped in 30 points spiked by five three-point bombs in Game Two.

Points aside, Castro showcased his brash swagger and infectious energy, and added seven rebounds, five assists and four steals to his all-around game. He also stopped a late-game rally by the Mixers by nailing a booming triple.

Aside from Castro, import Richard Howell also came alive in the last game as he did a yeoman’s job of controlling the paint with a powerful 18-point, 20-rebound night to offset yet another miserable performance from the team’s leading scorer, forward Ranidel de Ocampo, who managed eight points.

The Mixers, though, are expected to come into Game Three with more energy, especially from their veteran backcourt of James Yap and Peter June Simon, who were used sparingly in the second half. Both didn’t even play in the fourth period when San Mig Coffee sliced an 18-point deficit down to six.

According to head coach Tim Cone, the duo, along with ace forward Marc Pingris, were sat down to conserve their energy for the forthcoming games of what he expects to be a five-game series.