B-MEG eyes commanding series lead over Talk ‘N Text in Game Two

AKTV/Paolo Papa

B-MEG eyes a 2-0 lead that would put more pressure on Talk ‘N Text with a win in Game Two of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals Wednesday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

The Llamados try to follow up their 88-82 win in Game One in their 6:45 p.m. encounter and grab a commanding advantage in the best-of-seven championship series.

“To win back to back, it takes a special effort,” said B-MEG coach Tim Cone minutes after conquering the Tropang Texters in the series opener on Monday.

The Llamados leaned on the game-long brilliance of Denzel Bowles and a spark from Peter June Simon to draw first blood in the series.

Bowles finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds though he had seven of the team’s 19 turnovers.

Simon was unstoppable in Game One with 18 markers on 9-of-11 shooting from the field. Joe Devance and Marc Pingris contributed 11 points each for Cone.

But the B-MEG coach said they need to play consistent ball for 48 minutes as they allowed Talk ‘N Text to dominate one quarter as the Texters almost pulled off a come-from-behind win.

“We battled through a bad time in the third period. You cannot give Talk ‘N Text a quarter. We gotta play four quarters of basketball. We cannot play only three,” said Cone.

Talk ‘N Text misfortunes at the free throw line cost them the game as the defending champions missed 20 bonus shots and lost by only six points.

“You can’t win a game if you missed 20 free throws. The fact is we just gotta make our free throws,” said Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes.

“These guys have been playing basketball since they were wearing shortpants. I can’t help them there. I can’t shoot free throws for them. In the crucial moments, we still missed free throws.”

Donnell Harvey had 25 points, 13 boards and four steals in Game One but Reyes’s other reliables did not deliver particularly Ranidel de Ocampo and Jayson Castro who had only five points apiece.

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