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| LA Tenorio's heroics gave the Aces their second win. (image by Paolo Papa/InterAKTV.com) |
*unless otherwise specified, all images are by Pranz Kaeno Billones/InterAKTV.com
ALASKA ACES over BGY. GINEBRA KINGS, 76-74
LA Tenorio made two incredible plays at the finish as Alaska Milk beat out Barangay
Ginebra in a fierce battle in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup road game. The brilliant Alaska playmaker came through with a rare four-point play and a triple inside the final 18 seconds, keying the Aces’ escape act that wowed the cheering crowd at the Quezon Convention Center.
It was a classic match also marked by clutch baskets by Cyrus Baguio, Mark Caguioa and Kerby Raymundo. Baguio finished with a game-high 29 points while Tenorio wound up with 23 as Alaska scored its second straight win.
The Aces improved to 2-1 while the Kings slid to 1-1.
Caguioa paced the Kings with 19 points and ended up with a double-double game as he grabbed 12 rebounds.
The Aces, however, salvaged the game by working out a play where Tenorio eluded defender Jayjay Helterbrand on a pick by Thoss then got the dish from Adam Parada for the winning three-pointer he drained with 2.1 ticks left. Earlier, Tenorio got away with a four-point play off Mike Cortez to make it 73-72 with 18.2 seconds left.
It became a virtual all-Filipino game with Parada and Chris Alexander concentrating on defense and board work. Both scored only seven points.
Caguioa and Cortez led Ginebra’s assault as the Kings took the half at 41-32.
ALA 76 – Baguio 29, Tenorio 23, Parada 7, Baracael 5, Thoss 4, Reyes, JayR 4, Bugia 2, Custodio 2, Eman 0, Salamat 0.
BGK 74 – Caguioa 19, Cortez 13, Raymundo 12, Ababou 9, Alexander 7, Helterbrand 5, Canaleta 4, Labagala 3, Mamaril 1, Wilson, W. 1.
QS: 18-17, 32-41, 58-56, 76-74.
AIR 21 EXPRESS over BARAKO BULL ENERGY, 97-88
Winless in all its first 14 games in the previous conference, Air21 made a good impression right in its very first game in the Commissioner’s Cup. The Express won in convincing fashion, leading from start to finish and coasting to a triumph over Barako Bull.
The Express made 11 of their first 12 shots, leading to an early breakaway, 31-8. They never looked back and didn’t give the Energy much of a chance in pulling off a comeback. Marcus Douthit , Bitoy Omolon and Mark Isip provided the additional stock the Express needed. The three players were the latest additions to the squad with the two locals being picked up via a trade with the Meralco Bolts before the tournament started.
Douthit, a naturalized Filipino playing as an import, finished with 16 points and 17 boards. The former SMART-Gilas Pilipinas slotman came in a few days ago, but quickly fit in to the system of coach Franz Pumaren. Omolon top scored for the Express with 17 points while being kept busy containing Barako Bull import DerMarr Johnson at the other end. Isip finished with 10 points while holdovers RJ Jazul and James Sena combined for 28 points for the Express, who led by as much as 26 points, 51-25, in the second period.
The Express shot 45.2% from the field (33-of-73) while holding down the Energy below 40% shooting from the field (31-of-78). Air21 also played better as a team, dishing out nine more assists than Barako Bull, 18 to 9.
Johnson led Barako with 37 points. The Energy dropped their second game in three matches.
A21 97 – Omolon 17, Douthit 16, Jazul 15, Sena 13, Isip 10, Escobal 7, Duncil 6, Hubalde 5, Ritualo 5, Espiritu 13, Mirza 0, Faundo 0.
BBE 88 – Johnson 37, Miller 14, Arboleda 12, Najorda 9, Allado 6, Seigle 4, Lanete 2,
Pennisi 2, Pena 2, Weinstein 0, Salvador 0, Tubid 0.
QS: 33-13; 57-36; 77-60; 97-88.
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| Franz Pumaren finally tasted victory as a PBA Head Coach. |
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| Bitoy Omolon outraces Danny Seigle to the rock. |
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| Mick Pennisi tries to contain naturalized Pinoy Marcus Douthit. |
PETRON BLAZE BOOSTERS over B-MEG LLAMADOS, 84-77
Petron had one serious talk and then they were back on the go. Nick Fazekas and the Petron locals complemented each other as the Boosters finally nailed a first win in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, drubbing the erstwhile unbeaten B-Meg Llamados.
Fazekas led all scorers with 23 points with Joseph Yeo, Alex Cabagnot, Dennis Miranda and Arwind Santos putting in their shares with at least 10 markers each as Petron checked a two-game slump. Santos churned out a double-double game with 10 points and 14 rebounds as he moved back to No. 4 spot.
The Boosters came out strong, created some distance right in the opening minutes and held on in dealing the Llamados a first loss in three starts. Petron led by as many as 19 in the third quarter and had an answer each time B-Meg threatened to come close.
B-Meg’s Denzel Bowles once again went in and out of the game as he again got into foul-trouble situation early. Bowles played only 36 minutes as against Fazekas’ 44. The B-Meg import nonetheless paced his team with 22 points and 10 rebounds. James Yap struggled with a 5-of-17 field shooting. He also made five charities to finish with 16 points that went with six rebounds, five assists and one steal against one error.
PBB 84 - Fazekas 23, Yeo 15, Cabagnot 14, Miranda 12, Santos 10, Guevarra 6, Agustin 2, Ildefonso 2, Sharma 0, Tugade 0.
BML 77 - Bowles 22, J. Yap 16, Simon 12, Devance 9, Pingris 7, Barroca 4, R. Yap 3, Intal 2, Reavis 2, Urbiztondo 0, De Ocampo 0.
QS: 29-16, 45-36, 66-56, 84-77
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| Nick Fazekas led the Boosters anew, this time ending with a W. |
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| Arwind Santos's balanced play gave the Llamados another big headache. |
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| Denzel Bowles was good, but his performance failed to bring B-Meg a win. |
Source: Game recaps were compressed and compiled from PBA.ph
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