JAYSON Castro delivered the telling blows in a frenetic fourth-quarter shooting spree as Talk 'N Text ended Purefoods Star’s title-retention bid with a 79-66 win in Game Four of their PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinal series on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Castro lived up to his reputation as one of the finest guards in Asia, showcasing his blinding speed and vastly improved shooting to leave Purefoods defenders dizzy on the way to a career high-tying 33 points.
The Gilas Pilipinas star banged in 13 points in the final quarter alone, including three three-pointers that enabled the Tropang Texters to clinch the best-of-five series, 3-1, and arrange a title showdown with Rain or Shine starting on Wednesday.
He went 7-of-11 from three-point distance in the game.
“In the last game, I said Jayson is Jayson. He’s evolved from a go-to-guy to a passer. He just makes things easier for us,” said Talk ‘N Text coach Jong Uichico.
The Tropang Texters will be making in their 16th Finals appearance in franchise history as they chase their first league championship since winning one under Norman Black in 2012.
Like in Game Three which they won, 111-107, the Tropang Texters showed better ball movement and shot the ball better from afar, making 12 three-pointers overall.
Import Ivan Johnson added 15 points and 15 rebounds for the Tropang Texters while holding the high-scoring Purefoods import Denzel Bowles to just a solitary point in the final quarter.
The 6-foot-9 Bowles, who averaged 41 points in the first three games of the series, was held to a series-low of 14 points on a woeful 3-of-14 shooting from the floor.
The scores:
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