CASTRO STARS AS TNT CLAIMS TICKET TO FINALS
With another outstanding game from Jayson Castro, Talk n Text overcame a mere 28-point first-half output, blazing through in the final half as the Tropang Texters eased past the Purefoods Star Hotshots, 79-66, in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup Final Four faceoff at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Saturday night.
Castro matched a career-high 33 points spiked by seven three-point bombs, capping an amazing week concluded by the Texters’ return to the Commissioner’s Cup finale.
The Texters knocked out the Hotshots in four games of their best-of-five semis series and advanced to the best-of-seven Finals versus playoffs top seeds the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
Game One of the rematch of the 2013 all-Filipino Finals is Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Castro made it happen as he sparkled through the series, averaging 25 points, 6.8 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals.
After being named to the elite roster of PBA Greatest Players during the league’s 40th anniversary on Wednesday, Castro sizzled in the last two games with 15 three-pointers and a total of 60 points.
“As I said the last time, Jayson is Jayson,” said Talk n Text coach Jong Uichico.
“He’s a go-to-guy, he’s a passer and he really makes things easier for you. He’s a big problem to the other team,” Uichico also said.
The Texters were contained in the first half in Game Four, but not Castro.
The former PCU Dolphin accounted for 10 of their first-half output then waxed hotter in the second half, firing away 10 in the third period and 13 in the final canto.
From 62-59 count, the former PCU Dolphin had a hand in all of their next 12 points, either scoring or assisting in an amazing finish in a game where the Texters struggled badly at the start.
Shooting only 25 percent from the field, the Texters were held to their lowest output in a half in the last 10 years.
Interestingly, the Texters turned things around in the second half, taking their turn to limit the Hotshots to 28.
And there’s simply no stopping Castro on the offensive end.
Ivan Johnson, Jay Washington and Ranidel de Ocampo settled for supporting roles as Castro personally ended the Hotshots reign in the mid-season tourney. (SB)
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