Game today
Araneta Coliseum
5 p.m.- Purefoods vs. Talk ‘N Text
After chalking up two straight huge wins, the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters now go for jugular as they look to finish off the defending champions Purefoods Star Hotshots in Game 4 of their best-of-five semifinal series of the 40th PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Talk ‘N Text lost the series-opener, 94-100, but turned things around by taking the next two games. It first tied the series with a 93-77 win in Game 2 and surged ahead with a 111-107 win in last Thursday’s Game 2.
A win today will send the Tropang Texters to the best-of-seven championship round opposite the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
The Elasto Painters earned a precious extra days of rest of sweeping the Meralco Bolts in their own race-to-three series.
Should the Talk ‘N Text-Purefoods tiff stretch to a do-or-die Game 5, it will be played on Monday. The championship round will begin on Wednesday.
Jayson Castro was superb in Talk ‘N Text’s Game 3 win, firing a career-high eight triples en route to finishing with 27 points.
“Jason is Jason,” said Talk ‘N Text head coach Jong Uichico, who is looking to guide Talk ‘N Text to a second straight Commissioner’s Cup finals appearance.
Castro has been carrying the loads for Talk ‘N Text in the playoffs where he is averaging of 22.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.67 in the semis.
The Hotshots are not about to give up just yet.
“Hindi pa tapos ang series,” said James Yap, who was ironically benched in the fourth period of Game 3.
“Kailangan lang kalimutan na ang nangyari. Walang sisihan at focus lang talaga sa susunod na game,” Yap stressed.