TALK 'N Text may be facing a daunting 0-2 deficit in its PBA Governors Cup semifinal series against San Mig, but defiant combo guard Jason Castro is not about ready to give up.
“One game at a time lang. Huwag lang naming isipin na down kami 0-2,” Castro said, moments after the Texters dropped an 85-93 decision to the Mixers in Game Two on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
"Basta every game lalaruin namin and let’s see hanggang saan kami aabot, kasi may chance pa naman saka di pa tapos ang series," Castro added.
History is not on the side of the Texters, who will be trying to become only the fourth team in the 39-year history of the pro league to win a best-of-five playoff series from 0-2 down.
Crispa pulled off the feat against Toyota during the 1975 Third Conference finals; Purefoods in the 1990 Third Conference Finals, incidentally against current San Mig coach Tim Cone, then with Alaska; and Ginebra against Talk 'N Text in the 2010 All-Filipino quarterfinals.
Castro, however, said the Texters can only focus on Game Three, hoping to generate enough momentum with a victory to turn the series around.
“Kahit napaka-slim ang chance na 'yun, sabi nga ni coach (Norman Black) sa amin, stay positive lang. Makakuha lang kami ng isang game so let’s see,” added Castro, who struggled against San Mig’s airtight defense in Game Two as he finished with just 12 points on a horrible 4-of-14 shooting from the field.
Castro admitted that San Mig’s fiery start that saw the grand slam-seeking Mixers jump off to an early 15-3 lead, frustrated them.
“Siguro medyo na-frusrate kami sa start namin, that’s why masyado naming iniisip yung tira namin kasi start of the ballgame nag-run kaagad sila,” he said.
The former Philippine Christian University guard felt the Mixers were able to force them to take hurried shots from the outside with a swarming defense that closed out the Texters' shooters.
“They (Mixers) are doing a good job on closing out our three-point shots, eh game plan din nila yun to take away our three-point shooting. Tapos ipa-pa-drive kami at nandun yung big men nila na naghihintay sa amin,” said 'The Blur.'
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