Thunder, Pals zoom in on finals

Nothing, not even a choking incident with San Miguel’s Terquin Mott at halftime, could stop Antonio Lang from whipping up a torrid offensive from Batang Red Bull.

Lang came out firing on all cylinders as he powered the Thunder to an 83-80 scuttling of the Beerman yesterday to move a step closer to a return trip to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals at the Araneta Coliseum.

Coming back from a jittery Game 1 performance, Lang prevailed in his personal battle with Mott, erupting for 32 points, including 13 second quarter markers that dictated the tempo for Red Bull.

The game was marred by an ugly confrontation between Mott and Lang. Mott reportedly tried to choke Lang a la Latrel Sprewell against PJ Carlesimo after a heated verbal tussle going into their respective dugouts.

But Lang came out of that incident slightly bothered as he led a third quarter run when the Thunder retook the lead, scoring eight points there.

While Lang took care of almost everything, Julius Nwosu was the source of inside strength for Red Bull as he stopped Mott in San Miguel’s last two possessions while scoring four of the Thunder’s last five markers.

"They tried everything to beat us. They even tried to take Lang’s head with that barbaric act by Mott," said Batang Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao. "But we’re prepared for anything they want to try because we’re just too good for them."

The Thunder go for the kill on Wednesday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City while the Beermen are hoping to extend their best-of-five semifinal duel to at least another game.

Meanwhile, Jerald Honeycutt took charge again when it mattered as he almost singlehandedly powered Talk N Text to an 87-79 lashing of Alaska Milk to likewise step closer to a possible sweep.

Honeycutt delivered the killing blows, exploding for 14 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter including six straight in one stretch that zapped the fight out of the Aces. But not if Guiao and the Thunder could help it.

"We’ll finish them up on Wednesday because we’ll give everything we got. They know we are hard to beat three straight games," said Guiao.

Shae Seals led the Beermen with 23 points while Mott could only string together 19 points coming sporadically after getting into foul trouble again.