Texters gun for 2-0 upperhand vs Bolts

Game Thursday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

7 p.m. – TNT KaTropa vs Meralco

MANILA, Philippines – In stepping up in the final half Tuesday night, the TNT KaTropa Texters showed how lethal a team they are.

The Texters, looking well invincible now, ride a great run as they try to make it two in a row versus the Meralco Bolts and zero in on a first PBA finals in four conferences.

 Best Player of the Conference chief contender Jayson Castro and his teammates are determined to get going, raring to go for the pivotal 2-0 lead in their side of the PBA Governors Cup best-of-five semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Thursday night.

Tip-off is at 7 p.m. with the Texters out to duplicate their 113-95 victory in Game One.

Meralco coach Norman Black admits there’s little they can do when the Texters get their game going.

“You try to pick your poison on what you’re going to defend,” said Black, underscoring their dilemma on how to stop the Texters’ outside shooting and also their ability to attack the basket.

Black can only hope that they be consistent in making their outside shots to open up the floor for their import Allen Durham.

“If you go back to our entire conference, when Jared (Dillinger) doesn't shoot well, we normally lose. It really affects AD (Durham) because he needs a floor spacer,” said Black.

“When JD comes in and makes some outside shots, it opens everything up for AD,” Black added.

“Everybody stays with Jimmy (Alapag), they don't leave Jimmy. He's not the shooter he used to be, but they don't leave him because there's the possibility he can make shots. They stay on top of him. When Jimmy and JD are in the game, then there are two floor spacers out there and it gives us a better opportunity to giving AD some room,” Black pointed out.

Black rued their poor outside shooting Tuesday allowing the Texters to concentrate on Durham at the post.

Durham had had double-double numbers (16 points and 13 rebounds) in the first half but was neutralized in the second half.

The Texters punished the Bolts on both ends in the final half even with Castro not scoring big.

As the main focus of Meralco’s defense, Castro opted to create for his teammates and came through with a solid all-around game with 14 points, nine assists, four rebounds and three steals.

“We did everything defensively against them. We trapped them, we went under, we went over, we switched it, we even zoned and nothing really worked. We tried just about every defense we could come up,” said Black.

He insisted they have to make their shots to get a chance at getting even with the Texters.

“When we're not shooting well from the perimeter then it gives a lot more pressure on AD to try and score inside. We normally lose those games where our shooters didn't shoot well. If we make 10 or 11 three point shots we have a very good chance of winning,” said Black

“It's all about floor spacing. If we give AD more room to maneuver,” Black added.