Texters use 2nd-half scoring barrage to tie Govs Cup title series

Talk 'N Text pounded Petron with a huge second half explosion and carved out a convincing 103-85 Game 2 win to level the PBA Governors Cup Finals series Wednesday night in Tubod. Lanao del Norte. Jason Castro finished with 24 points and import Scottie Reynolds bounced back from a lackluster Game 1 showing with 18 markers as the duo combined to a sizzling 12-0 run at the start of the fourth quarter to allow the Grand Slam-seeking Tropang Texters of finally taking control of the highly-physical match. With Castro and Reynolds at the firing end, the Tropang Texters stretched a six-point lead third-quarter lead to an 83-65 bubble with still nine minutes and 49 seconds to play. The best-of-seven series is now tied at 1-1, with Game 3 set Friday at the Araneta Coliseum. "At halftime, I asked the players if they're scared cause we're not gonna win the series playing like we're sissies," said coach Chot Reyes. "In the second half, we manned up, we became stronger, we took it right through them because this is war." The Tropang Texters trailed by 40-30 with six minutes left in the second quarter after Arwind Santos's reverse lay up. But Castro opened up the third with six straight points before another jumper by the former Philippine Christian University (PCU) stalwart at the 6:21 mark put the Tropang Texters in front for good, 54-52. The lead was at its biggest at 101-80 with three minutes to play as Larry Fonacier clustered five straight points. Santos paced Petron with 29 points and Anthony Grundy had 23 as the two were the only players to finish in double figures for the Blaze Boosters. Play was physical enough that a scuffle between Petron's Alex Cabagnot and Castro ensued in the 3:12 mark of the second period with the Blaze Boosters on top, 42-33. Petron's Jojo Duncil along with Talk 'N Text’s Ali Peek and Mark Yee were assessed technical fouls each and were ejected for provoking, trash talking and taking a fighting stance, while Cabagnot was called for flagrant foul 1. Even Petron team manager Hector Calma got into the fray as he was whistled for technical foul for unsportsmanlike conduct. Ranidel de Ocampo also needed four stitches to close a cut above his right forehead after he was elbowed during a play. "If they're gonna throw cheap shots, we're gonna give it right back at them and we should hit them harder. That's just the way it's gonna be," added Reyes. - JVP, GMA News