PBA Roundup; October 2-5, 2011

Paul Lee goes under the defense to score the deuce.
(image by Nuki Sabio/PBA.ph)

RAIN OR SHINE over BGY. GINEBRA KINGS, 94-93

Rain or Shine 94 - Lee 21, Chan 18, Norwood 11, Buenafe 10, Cruz 8, Quinahan 7, Matias 6, Belga 4, Rodriguez 4, Ibanes 4, Arana 1.

Ginebra 93 - Intal 16, Caguioa 16, Helterbrand 11, Tubid 8, Cortez 8, Wilson J. 6, Canaleta 6, Villanueva 6, Labagala 5, Mamaril 5, Wilson W. 4, De Ocampo 2, Cervantes 0.

QS: 20-19, 44-37, 77-62, 94-93

Paul Lee was as good as advertised, helping Rain or Shine get off to a rousing start

and making coach Yeng Guiao recover somewhat from an act of vandalism on his car. With the No. 2 overall pick either scoring or dishing off, the Elasto Painters hurdled the Barangay Ginebra Kings.

Lee wound up with game highs of 21 points and 8 assists in his PBA debut coming off the bench as Rain or Shine managed to escape with the win despite a blown 16-point lead.

Ginebra came roaring back from 16 points down in the fourth period and had the chance to tie it when JC Intal was awarded three free throws off a foul by JR Quinahan, only 1.3 ticks remaining.

Intal and Jayjay Helterbrand were actually the ones who spearheaded Ginebra’s comeback, combining for 14 points in the fourth canto, with the former’s short jumper making it a 91-93 count, still 41 ticks left. After Intal made the first two of his charities, the third rattled out and John Wilson’s follow-up before the final buzzer proved a tad long, prompting Guiao to let out a huge sigh of relief.

Intal and Mark Caguioa each had 16 points to pace Ginebra, which played minus Eric Menk, who is suffering from a pulled calf muscle.

Jeff Chan scored 18 points, including 12 in the third period, while Gabe Norwood added five of his 11 and Jervy Cruz four of his eight in the fourth.

Willie Wilson battles with Ronnie Matias for the rebound.
(image by Nuki Sabio/PBA.ph)

Beau Belga and Jeff Chan catch Mike Cortez
in a defensive sandwich.
(image by Nuki Sabio/PBA.ph)

POWERADE TIGERS over SHOPINAS CLCKERS, 98-87

Powerade 98 - David 31, Cruz 15, Vanlandingham 14, Lassiter 10, Antonio 8, Lingganay 6, Kramer 6, Anthony 4, Calimag 4, Adducul 0.

Shopinas.com 87 - Ritualo 19, Sena 15, Duncil 11, Mirza 9, Sison 8, Hermida 7, Espiritu 6, Jazul 6, Menor 6, Canlas 0, Canta 0, Se 0.

QS: 37-16, 55-42, 79-71, 98-87

Despite some run-ins with pesky Ogie Menor, Gary David exploded for 31 points as Powerade blew hot and cold and then hot again in bucking JV Casio’s absence and notching a victory over gritty Shopinas.com.

Celino Cruz, Joshua Vanlandingham and rookie Marcio Lassiter also churned up at least 10 points each as the Tigers regained in the game’s last 13 minutes the fiery form that had them racing to two early 24-point leads.

Ren-Ren Ritualo led Shopinas with 19 points with rookie James Sena adding 15 and a game-high 12 rebounds and Jojo Duncil 11 markers, the bulk coming at the height of the Clickers’ most noteworthy assault.

Duncil, on loan to Petron Blaze in the Boosters’ successful Governors Cup campaign, scattered nine of his points in the third period that enabled Shopinas to close in at 67-69 and kept it within 70-73 going into the last minute of the third period.

Good thing the likes of rookie Rudy Lingganay, Cruz, David and Vanlandingham were there to provide stability in Powerade’s endgame stance.

Lassiter, tabbed three notches lower than Casio in last August’s Draft, capped a 10-point, seven-rebound debut with a floater that made it a safe 93-81 count, 5:04 left.

Sean Anthony and Ogie Menor won't let go.
(image by Nuki Sabio/PBA.ph)

Gary David's scoring outburst led the Tigers
to a win against the Clickers.
(image by Nuki Sabio/PBA.ph)

Elmer Espiritu had a tough time keeping up with
Powerade's Marcio Lassiter.
(image by Nuki Sabio/PBA.ph)

PETRON BLAZE BOOSTERS over B-MEG LLAMADOS, 73-69

Petron 73 – Lutz 19, Cabagnot 17, Santos 11, Miranda 8, Sharma 6, Ildefonso 5, Guevarra 3, Agustin 2, Yeo 2, Baclao 0, Hontiveros 0.

B-Meg 69 – Simon 21, Yap 10, Raymundo 10, De Vance 9, Yap R. 9, Ferriols 4, Barroca 2, Reavis 2, Maierhofer 1, Pingris 1, Urbiztondo 0.

QS: 13-22, 36-38, 58-54, 73-69

With a crippled lineup, Petron Blaze worked hard during the off-season to improve its defense. It paid off at least in its first game in the season proper versus B-Meg and its new coach Tim Cone.

The Boosters charged back from an early double-digit deficit and beat out B-Meg in an exciting and thrilling battle watched by a near capacity crowd at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Chris Lutz, a product of the Smart Gilas program, acquitted himself with his pro team right away, putting in big help as Petron spoiled Cone’s debut with his new team. Lutz came through with a team-high 19 points that went with four rebounds, three steals and one block in 37 minutes of play. He played extended minutes with Dondon Hontiveros hurting his foot just six minutes into the game.

Alex Cabagnot and Arwind Santos likewise dished out solid games helping the Boosters pick up from where they left off last season. Cabagnot fired 17 points, including seven of their last nine, while Santos started the season with a double-double performance with 19 rebounds and 11 markers.

It was a good win for the Boosters, who needed to rally from a 10-point deficit, 6-16, early on.

They closed in at the half, 36-38, and stormed ahead, 45-38, at the outset of the third before the Llamados had their counter-chase to the tone of the fierce endgame battle.