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| JC Intal was productive as the Llamados dealt the Aces another loss. |
BARAKO BULL ENERGY over AIR21 EXPRESS, 109-100
LeRoy Hickerson played a monster game while the rest of Barako Bull locals provided him support as they picked up their second straight win, outplaying the Air21 Express, 109-100, in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.
In just his second game for Barako Bull, Hickerson scored 38 points and finished two rebounds and two assists shy of a triple-double. Barako Bull improved its win-loss record to 3-2, forging a three-way tie for third to fifth spots in the team standings with idle Ginebra and Powerade.
The locals also did their share in the Energy’s victory, with six other players scoring at least
six points.Mick Pennisi finished with 14 points, Doug Kramer had another double-double performance with 10 points and 10 rebounds while Leo Najorda and Celino Cruz contributed nine points for Barako Bull, which led the game from start to finish.
Willie Miller and Don Allado chipped in eight points, Reil Cervantes came off the bench and delivered seven while Ronald Tubid had six.
BAR 109 – Hickerson 38, Pennisi 14, Kramer 10, Najorda 9, Cruz 9, Miller 8, Allado 8, Cervantes 7, Tubid 6, Weinstein 0, Sharma 0.
A21 100 – Graham 41, Sena 16, Isip 11, Omolon 10, Hubalde 6, Salamat 5, Arboleda 5, Espiritu 4, Menor 2, Sison 0, Faundo 0, Ritualo 0.
QS: 33-23, 53-47, 80-69, 109-100
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| Zachary Graham and the Air21 Express are on the verge of being eliminated. |
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| Ronald Tubid and the Energy are aiming for a slot in the quarterfinals. |
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| LeRoy Hickerson came up big again for Barako Bull. |
B-MEG LLAMADOS over ALASKA ACES, 77-61
Banking on its specialty of playing lock-down defense, B-MEG wrested the solo lead the only way they knew how and grabbed automatic entry in the semifinal round of the PBA Governors’ Cup at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
The Llamados won, 77-61, holding the Alaska Aces down to a season-low output even with Marqus Blakely playing only 26 minutes and not seeing action the entire fourth period.
The Llamados did a great job shackling Sonny Thoss and Cyrus Baguio, Alaska’s two key players, to extend their winning streak to five. B-MEG now holds a 5-1 card, half a game ahead of Rain or Shine, to move to the top of the team standings.
Thoss struggled for 10 points on 3-of-8 shooting from the field while Baguio finished with only five points on a 1-for-4 shooting clip from the field. All in all, the Aces got only seven points from their bench with only Baguio and Brandon Cablay scoring for the reserves.
The Aces were also held to 32.4 percent shooting from the field and were beaten in the assist department, 20-9.
The 61 points scored by Alaska was the fourth all-time lowest score by any franchise in the league. It was also the Aces’ lowest production in nine years.
B-MEG coach Tim Cone, who masterfully put on a perfect game plan in handing his former team its worst beating in years, attributed his team’s good defense as the key to the victory.
But while the Llamados look like they’re on a roll right now, they do have bad news on the condition of Blakely’s health.
“I’m afraid Marqus has a concussion. He had food poisoning yesterday and got hit earlier. He had health problems himself. Knowing we won’t play him in the second half, Ping (Marc Pingris) played heavy minutes, and PJ (Simon) and James (Yap) provided us double threats on the floor. Together, they changed the way we play,” said coach Tim Cone.
“But I’m really concerned about the condition of Marqus. We’re gonna give him a concussion test. We have to ask the doctor if he’s fit to play. I told him earlier if you’re seeing spots in your vision, we won’t play you. You don’t mess around with a concussion, but hopefully we can get him ready against Petron,” added Cone.
BML 77 – Blakely 13, Intal 13, Simon 13, Urbiztondo 8, Yap 8, Pingris 7, De Ocampo 6, Reavis 5, Barroca 4, Acuna 0, Gaco 0, Burstcher 0, Bono 0, Villanueva 0.
ALA 61 – Forte 24, Tenorio 17, Thoss 10, Baguio 5, Baracael 2, Cablay 2, Espinas 1, Jazul 0, Custodio 0, Eman 0, Gonzales 0, Dela Cruz 0.
QS: 20-24, 38-38, 60-46, 77-61
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| This Statue of Liberty slam from Joseph Forte was for naught as Alaska lost to B-Meg. |
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| Josh Urbiztondo has become known as one of the toughest guards in the PBA. |
RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO-PAINTERS over MERALCO BOLTS, 81-77
This time, Rain or Shine made the important free throws when the game was on the line.
The Elasto Painters made 10 of their last 11 free throws in less than four minutes, including five in the last 37.6 seconds, to survive a gritty Meralco Bolts squad, 81-77, in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum Friday night.
Paul Lee made three free throws, including a technical foul shot called against Asi Taulava for for an illegal timeout, while Gabe Norwood made two charities of his own as the Elasto Painters got back on the winning track by securing their fifth win in six matches.
In taking win No. 5, Rain or Shine also got an automatic seat in the semifinal round, joining B-Meg Llamados on top of the standings. The Elasto Painters and the Llamados carry the same 5-1 win-loss card.
Before going 10-of-11 in the last 3:53, the Elasto Painters was just 29-of-43 from the line for a 67.4% clip.
ROS 81 – Cornley 21, Lee 16, Norwood 10, Cruz 6, Chan 6, Quinahan 6, Buenafe 6, Matias 4, Jaime 4, Ibanes 2, Tang 0, Belga 0.
MER 77 – West 23, Taulava 15, Cardona 12, Mercado 9, Bulawan 6, Hugnatan 6, Ross 3, Reyes 3, Macapagal 0, Artadi 0.
QS: 18-17, 32-35, 59-59, 81-77
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| Jamelle Cornley continues to be money for Rain or Shine. |
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| Mac Cardona and the Bolts are floundering near the bottom of the standings. |
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| Paul Lee's 16 points helped tow the Painters to their fifth win in six games. |
POWERADE TIGERS over BGY. GINEBRA KINGS, 86-83
The Powerade Tigers proved that they can win without Gary David scoring 20 points.
The hotshot guard saw his string of 19 games with at least 20 points snapped, but the Tigers rallied for an 86-83 victory over the Barangay Ginebra Kings in exciting PBA Governors’ Cup action Friday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
With David struggling from the field, Powerade fell behind, 23-9 in the first quarter. But Rey Guevarra scored 11 of his 13 points in the second quarter to help the Tigers close the gap, 41-38, at the end of the half.
Though he shot just 1-of-8 from beyond the arc, Gary David’s three-pointer at with just 3:03 left in the game sparked a 9-2 run that gave Powerade an 83-79 lead.
Dylan Ababou cut the Powerade advantage with a layup before the teams figured in a series of turnovers. With the shot clock running out, Powerade’s possession seemed to be going nowhere, but import Omar Sneed grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a putback to give the Tigers more breathing space.
Kerby Raymundo scored in the ensuing possession, and the Gin Kings sent Sneed to the line, where he split his free throws with five seconds left.
Down three points, Ginebra could not get a good attempt at an equalizer, as Powerade escaped with the win.
Tigers coach Bo Perasol said the close win would serve his team in good stead. “I think it’s gonna be good for our character,” he said.
Perasol credited Ginebra with coming up with a great effort against David, who was held to just 16 points after averaging 28 coming into the game.
Sneed finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds for the Tigers, who won their fourth straight game.
POW 86 – Sneed 27, David 16, Guevarra 13, Casio 10, Salvador 6, Lingganay 4, Anthony 4, Tugade 4, Al-Hussaini 2, Vanlandingham 0, Allera 0, Antonio 0.
GIN 83 – Bozeman 23, Caguioa 12, Maliksi 9, Ababou 9, Maierhofer 8, Raymundo 8, Canaleta 5, Villanueva 4, Hatfield 3, Cortez 2, Helterbrand 0.
QS: 9-23, 38-41, 64-63, 86-83
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| Rudy Lingganay adds even more speed and shooting to the already deadly arsenal of Powerade. |
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| Cedric Bozeman (L) scored 23 in Ginebra's loss, while Gary David (R) pumped in 16 in the Tigers' win. |
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| Dylan Ababou has been a welcome addition to the formidable frontline of the Kings. |
TALK N TEXT TROPANG TEXTERS over ALASKA ACES, 80-72
The Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters probably thought the game was over early in the fourth quarter. The Alaska Aces believed otherwise.
Talk ‘N Text survived a late charge from Alaska, which cut a 21-point fourth quarter lead to just three, to hold on to an 80-72 victory in PBA Governors’ Cup action in Tubod, Lanao del Norte Saturday night.
The Tropang Texters were still up, 73-53, early in the final period when the Aces unleashed a 19-2 run capped by two free throws by import Jason Forte with under two minutes remaining.
With Alaska breathing down his team’s neck, Talk ‘N Text coach sued for time and drew up a play that saw Ranidel De Ocampo hit a crucial three-pointer to give the Tropang Texters a 78-72 lead with 1:05 left.
Talk ‘N Text came up with a stop in the ensuing possession, before Jayson Castro scored a layup. Castro then sealed the win for the Tropang Texters with a steal in the next play.
Paul Harris had 25 points and 17 rebounds for Talk ‘N Text, which overcame a poor start by taking a 45-35 halftime lead, while Larry Fonacier scored 13 of his 16 points in the first half.
Forte and Mac Baracael, the architects of the late Alaska comeback, led the Aces with 24 and 20 points, respectively.
Alaska suffered its sixth loss in seven games, becoming the first team eliminated from contention in the tournament, coach Luigi Trillo’s first at the helm of the Aces.
Talk ‘N Text, meanwhile, improved its win-loss record to 2-3.
TNT 80 – Harris 25, Fonacier 16, De Ocampo 9, Williams 8, Aguilar 6, Castro 4, Peek 4, Gamalinda 3, Aban 3, Alapag 2.
ALA 72 – Forte 24, Baracael 20, Espinas 8, Thoss 6, Eman 5, Baguio 5, Custodio 2, Dela Cruz 2, Tenorio 0, Jazul 0, Cablay 0.
QS: 16-22, 45-35, 66-49, 80-72
Source: Unless otherwise specified, game recaps were compressed and compiled from InterAKTV. (Writing credit to Reynaldo Belen.)
Images: All images are from InterAKTV. (Photo credit to Paolo Papa and Paul Ryan Tan)
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