PBA Roundup: October 12, 2011

Gabby Espinas and the Meralco Bolts bucked the
absence of key players to upend the Shopinas.com Clickers.
(image by Nuki Sabio/PBA.ph)

MERALCO BOLTS over SHOPINAS.COM CLICKERS, 79-72

Meralco’s prized players were hardly missed since there were still some able bodies to fill up the gaps. And no one was bigger than Asi Taulava, who scored a crucial fallaway jumper to point the undermanned Bolts to a victory over the Shopinas.com Clickers for their breakthrough win in the PBA Philippine Cup.

Gabby Espinas, Mark Macapagal and Mark Isip each scored at least 11 points, but it was Taulava’s shotclock-beating fallaway that solidified the Bolts’ triumph following an 80-98 loss to Talk ‘N Text in their conference debut game last Friday.

Paolo Hubalde scored a career-high 21 points, but Shopinas still dropped its second straight game after failing to pounce on the opportunity presented by the absences of injured Meralco players Mark Cardona, Sol Mercado, Reynel Hugnatan and Chris Ross.

Taulava, who wound up with a game-high 10 rebounds to go with seven points, said he was simply trying to do his share and did by making it a 77-72 count going into the last 25 seconds of play.

Meralco actually started cold, committing 11 turnovers in the opening quarter and making just 4 of 15 field goal tries.

Shopinas fared just only a bit better from the field (5-of-25) for an 11-9 lead that stands as the league’s lowest combined score for any quarter in the last four conferences.

Meralco 79 - Espinas 16, Macapagal 14, Isip 11, Yee 10, Lanete 8, Taulava 7, Borboran 6, Timberlake 5, Omolon 2, Ballesteros 0.

Shopinas.com 72 - Hubalde 21, Menor 9, Sena 7, Duncil 7, Ritualo 7, Mirza 6, Se 6, Hermida 4, Sison 2, Jazul 2, Canlas 1, Espiritu 0.

QS: 9-11, 32-31, 58-52, 79-72

Jason Ballesteros and Khasim Mirza battle for the
rebound in yesterday's PBA action.
(image by Nuki Sabio/PBA.ph)

Asi Taulava made some big plays and hit a big shot
in the clutch to seal Meralco's win.
(image by Nuki Sabio/PBA.ph)

B-MEG LLAMADOS over ALASKA ACES, 81-75

Coach Tim Cone earned his first win outside the Alaska Milk organization at the expense of Alaska Milk itself. Cone prevailed over his former team as the B-Meg Llamados came from behind to beat the Alaska Aces.

James Yap, Josh Urbiztondo and Kerby Raymundo had a big part making Cone’s day. Yap led all scorers with 20 points, while Urbiztondo and Raymundo delivered at crunch time.

The Llamados fought back from an early 15-point deficit and beat out the Aces at endgame on crucial baskets by Urbiztondo and Raymundo. Urbiztondo banged away three straight treys that opened up a 75-68 lead for the Llamados entering the last three minutes of play. Then Raymundo drove off Sonny Thoss for a key twinner

making it 79-75 for B-Meg with time down to 20 seconds.

The Aces actually came out with its guns ablaze, taking the first quarter at 21-9 then having its 15-point spread at 24-9. B-Meg came alive in the second quarter with Yap firing 10 points and team rallying to within to, 35-37, at the half.

B-Meg 81 – Yap J. 20, Urbiztondo 12, Raymundo 12, Simon 11, De vance 10, Reavis 8, Pingris 6, Ferriols 2, Barroca 0, Acuna 0, Maierhofer 0, Yap R. 0.

Alaska 75 – Thoss 18, Reyes 15, Tenorio 11, Baguio 10, Dela Cruz 9, Baracael 4, Custodio 4, Eman 3, Bugia 1, Cablay 0.

QS: 9-21, 35-37, 61-56, 81-75