Llamados, Texters go for 2-1 edge

MANILA, Philippines - A blown won game and a victory secured in a frenzied finish best typify the thriller of a series now reduced to a best-of-five between B-Meg and Talk n Text with Game Three of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals set today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Llamados squandered the chance to be decisively ahead after moving up by five points with less than two minutes left in Game Two Wednesday and the Tropang Texters seized the crucial win, 104-102, that leveled the series at 1-all.

Instead of one team going for a pivotal 3-0 lead, B-Meg and Talk n Text break a one-game standoff following the Llamados’ endgame collapse resulting to a heart-breaking loss in Game Two.

But the Llamados hope to come out a better team after going through the trauma of a bitter meltdown while the Texters are just eager to get going as they clash in the third setto of a faceoff that drew the best from the very best this conference.

“It (Game Two) is over and done with. All they did was tie the series. We’re back to a best-of-five series (as in the semifinals) and we’ll refocus,” said B-Meg coach Tim Cone.

Although enjoying the momentum from that Game 2 triumph, Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes remains wary of the fired-up Llamados.

“It’s really a battle of attrition. We have to suck it up and find ways to win,” said Reyes.

He added: “They (Llamados) drew first blood, then we made some adjustments and evened it up Wednesday. I’m sure they will make their own adjustments in Game Three. In the end, we have to play 48 minutes with full concentration.”

The Tropang Texters threw away an early 14-point spread and needed to wage their own fightback at the finish to take Game Two.

“We had the game and they came back and stole it from us. That makes you feel real bad,” said Cone.

“The nice thing about it, we had the (series) lead (that time). We could have been much worse, going down 0-2,” Cone also said.

The Llamados and the Texters dished out impressive forms in the first two games with the Llamados taking Game One by six points, 88-82, and the Texters pulling through by two points in the second match.

“In a duel between two evenly matched teams, it will boil down to the last possession. Even in Game One, it boiled down to that. That’s how it’s going to be,” said Reyes.

“Yes, all we did was tie the series. Let’s see if we can go and step ahead in Game Three,” Reyes added.

With a big starting lineup of Donnell Harvey, Kelly Williams, Ranidel de Ocampo, Ryan Reyes and Jimmy Alapag, the Tropang Texters started stronger in Game Two, enjoying a 14-point spread at 32-18.

The Llamados, however, made the right adjustments in the second and third quarters, getting the rhythm to seize control entering the homestretch.

Alas, Denzel Bowles and his teammates self-destructed at the finish, blowing away a good chance to beat the Texters two in a row.

Bowles had three flubbed field goals on top of one error in a faltering windup that the B-Meg gallery that included his mother disappointed.

Jason Castro exploited those opportunities, scoring all-important baskets to propel the Texters to the crucial series-levelling victory.