Jay R. Gotera Saudi Gazette MANILA — Jayson Castro exploded big-time for a third straight game, powering the Talk N Text Tropang Texters to an emphatic 79-66 victory over the Purefoods Star Hotshots Saturday night to wrap up their PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals series, 3-1, thus arranging a best-of-seven Finals against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters beginning Wednesday. Eclipsing the performance of even the best imports in the league, Castro led all scorers with a career-tying 33 points, 13 of them in the final quarter when the Texters began breaking away from a tight contest. Castro showed dazzling speed and impeccable shooting from all over the court, particularly from beyond the three-point arc where he made 7-of-11 shots. The man nicknamed the Blur also had five rebounds, four assists and two steals. TNT import Ivan Johnson added 15 points and 15 rebounds while putting the handcuffs on prolific Purefoods import Denzel Bowles who finished with a conference-low 14 points on a lethargic 3-of-14 shooting from the floor, including just a single point in the final quarter. Bowles came into Game 4 averaging 41 points. Ranidel de Ocampo and Jay Washington added 12 points apiece for TNT. The Texters will be making their 16th Finals appearance in franchise history. Unlike in their previous games, the Texters started slow, scoring just 28 points in the first half as against the Hotshots' 38. The Texters turned up the heat in the third quarter with Castro scoring 10 straight points. But the Hotshots remained on top, 48-45, heading into the final period. The Texters then unleashed their full might in the fourth quarter, with Johnson starting the period with six straight points capped by a Castro stepback jumper for an 8-0 run as TNT opened up a five-point lead, 64-59. Marc Pingris scored from the inside to cut the TNT lead to three. But Castro answered with a fearless three-pointer with Pingris, the Hotshots' best defender, all over him. Pingris scored again on a follow-up, but Castro answered with a perfect pass to an open Washington who drilled a three-pointer near the baseline to give TNT a 72-63 lead with 2:39 left, virtually sealing TNT's victory and dethroning the defending champion Hotshots. Castro then put an exclamation mark on his special night with a steal off Mark Barroca and an easy fastbreak layup. Aside from Bowles, only two Hotshots scored in double digits – Barroca with 12 points and Joe Devance with 10 markers. Jame Yap, Purefoods' top gunner, had a woeful night, finishing with just two points, hitting just one of eight tries from the floor. Game Wednesday: Talk N Text Tropang Texters vs. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (Game 1, Best-of-7 Finals).
