"I think I'm going into acting after my PBA career is over." – Mick Pennisi
*Unless otherwise specified, all images are by Paolo Papa/InterAKTV.com
BARAKO BULL ENERGY over PETRONBLAZE BOOSTERS, 94-80
Mick Pennisi did more than join an elite group Wednesday in his colorful pro career. The newest member of the 700 Three-Points Made Club caused the ejection of new Petron Blaze import Will McDonald and helped Barako Bull notch a victory that fanned the Energy's hopes of making the PBA Commissioner's Cup playoffs.
Rodney White played his best game yet with 41 points and 22 rebounds while Willie Miller, Ronald Tubid and Dorian Pena gave significant contributions in the win that followed Barako Bull's 89-82 win over Meralco in Lanao del Norte last Wednesday.
Still, even coach Junel Baculi had to admit Pennisi getting the goat of McDonald with just 3:15 into the second period was the biggest key to his team rising to fifth from eighth after evening its win-loss record to 4-4. Following their scrap underneath the Petron basket McDonald threw the ball at Pennisi's forehead, which the latter further sold – although a bit belatedly – as a flagrant foul-penalty 2 offense by falling down on his back.
McDonald wound up with just 7 points, 5 rebounds and a steal in 13 minutes of action. His stint could even be shorter should PBA commissioner Chito Salud decide to suspend him a game. Salud is set to announce his decision Thursday following a review of the incident.
BBE 94 - White 41, Miller 16, Pennisi 11, Tubid 10, Allado 7, Arboleda 3, Weinstein 2, Aquino 2, Seigle 2, Najorda 0, Pena 0.
PBB 80 - Cabagnot 17, Santos 13, Yeo 11, Guevarra 9, Mc Donald 7, Miranda 7, Ildefonso 7, Reyes 5, Baclao 2, Rizada 2, Al-Hussaini 0, Lanete 0, Tugade 0.
QS: 30-20, 52-32, 74-52, 94-80
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| Shawn Weinstein tries to get around Josephy Yeo. |
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| Mick Pennisi's now infamous flop! |
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| Danny Seigle tries to protect his, uhm, ball, from the clutches of Denok Miranda. (image by Paul Ryan Tan/InterAKTV.com) |
RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO-PAINTERS over B-MEG LLAMADOS, 101-95
Rain or Shine continued to play big with its back against the wall, ducking elimination for the second straight game by whipping B-Meg. The Elasto Painters thrived under pressure, pounding the Llamados with a good perimeter shooting and staying alive with a 3-5 win-loss card.
With back-to-back wins, the Elasto Painters drew level with the Petron Blaze Boosters and the Meralco Bolts at eighth place at 3-5, now just half-game behind the Air21 Express (3-4) and a game adrift the Alaska Milk Aces (4-4) and the Barako Bull Energy (4-4). The Llamados slid back to second place behind the Talk n Text Tropang Texters (5-2) with a third loss in eight games.
Jeff Chan accounted for five three-point conversions, finishing with a total of 19 points in the well-fought game.
James Yap of B-Meg struggled for only 7 points on 2-of-13 field shooting and 2-of-5 free throws. Denzel Bowles produced 38 huge points, but Duke Crews got more rebounds with 16 and added 24 points.
ROS 101 - Crews 24, Chan 19, Arana 14, Norwood 11, Matias 8, Buenafe 8, Lee 6, Quinahan 6, Tang 5, Belga 0, Ibanes 0.
BML 95 - Bowles 38, Simon 19, Pingris 8, Reavis 8, Yap 7, Barroca 6, Devance 5, Intal 2, De Ocampo 2, Urbiztondo 0, Burtscher 0.
QS: 19-18, 39-43, 64-70, 101-95
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| Mark Barroca skies past Beau Belga. |
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| Gabe Norwood slams one home as the Painters defeated the Llamados. |
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| Duke Crews has some words to share with Yancy De Ocampo. (image by Paul Ryan Tan/InterAKTV.com) |
MERALCO BOLTS over AIR21 EXPRESS, 101-91
Meralco tried to put the game away and dishearten Air21 early. In the end, it was the Bolts’ toughness that kept their playoff chances alive. Meralco scored all but 6 of the game’s first 34 points, and then stood its ground after the game turned physical and Air21 waged a comeback, pulling off a win and keeping their slim hopes for a playoff spot alive.
Mark Cardona had seven of the Bolts’ final 12 points including a back-breaking three-point shot that gave Meralco a 12-point lead, Asi Taulava collected 16 points and 10 rebounds and import Earl Barron finished with a game-high 34 points in leading the young franchise to its fourth win at the end of its elimination round campaign. Cardona wound up with 19 points in all.
Air21 dropped its third game in a row and slipped into a tie with Rain or Shine and reigning Governors’ Cup champion Petron at 3-5. The Express will now have to prevail over Barangay Ginebra in their final game to have a crack at a playoff for a quarterfinals berth.
Sol Mercado added 13 points for Meralco, but was ejected with 3:26 left in the game after incurring his second technical foul on a body bump on Jojo Duncil.
Marcus Douthit led Air21 with 33 points and Ritualo ended up with a personal conference-best 20. However, no other local player had scored in double figures for the Express, with Mark Isip only having four and Nelbert Omolon finishing with two.
MB 101 - Barron 34, Cardona 19, Taulava 16, Mercado 13, Macapagal 9, Ross 8, Espinas 2, Timberlake 0, Borboran 0.
A21 91 - Douthit 33, Ritualo 20, Espiritu 8, Hubalde 7, Duncil 6, Sena 4, Menor 4, Isip 4, Jazul 3, Omolon 2, Sison 0, Escobal 0.
QS: 28-14, 51-39, 73-60, 101-91.
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| The "Sol Train" Sol Mercado slices thru the defense of Paolo Hubalde. |
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| Asi Taulava and Mac Cardona have helped tow the Bolts to the brink of a playoffs spot. |
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| Mark Macapagal applies tight defense against the offensive-minded Jojo Duncil. |
ALASKA ACES over POWERADE TIGERS, 102-100 (OT)
Adam Parada matched a season-high 28 rebounds, the last paving the way for his winning follow-up shot as Alaska Milk upended Powerade in overtime to clinch the third slot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs.
The Aces waged a spirited chase from 16 points down in the last five minutes of regulation and lived on in OT to close out their elimination-round stint at 5-4. Alaska is back in the playoffs after a disastrous ninth-place finish in the recent Philippine Cup.
The Texters and the Llamados gained a free ride into the playoffs as the Meralco Bolts repulsed the Air21 Express earlier in the night.
Alaska held Powerade scoreless in the last 5:25 of regulation to force overtime at 92. The Aces even got an opportunity to steal the game right in regulation but Sonny Thoss missed a fall-away shot inside the paint at the buzzer.
Going down the drain with Powerade’s loss was Gary David’s conference-high 40-point explosion. David knocked in four triples, eight twinners and 12 charities as he missed by two his season best made towards the end of the Philippine Cup elimination round. He put in at least 20 points for the 12th straight game dating back to the last conference. He’s now 19 points away from joining the 5,000-point club.
Parada top scored for Alaska with 28 points to go with his 18 defensive caroms and 10 offensive boards. The Alaska import matched the season-high 28 boards set by Talk n Text's Donnell Harvey. Bonbon Custodio and Baguio chipped in 19 points each, Thoss had his own double-double game with 13 points and 10 rebounds while LA Tenorio had solid all-around numbers of 10 rebounds, 9 points and 7 assists.
ALA 102 - Parada 28, Custodio 19, Baguio 19, Thoss 13, Tenorio 9, Bugia 4, Gonzales 4, Salamat 2, Baracael 2, Reyes 2, Eman 0.
POW 100 - David 40, Lassiter 17, Jones 14, Anthony 8, Kramer 6, Lingganay 5, Vanlandingham 5, Casio 5, Allera 0, Calimag 0, Cruz 0, Antonio 0.
QS: 20-26, 36-45, 62-75, 92-92, 102-100
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| Soinny Thoss sets up against Powerade import Dwayne Jones. |
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| Alex Compton reacts as the Tigers lose a big lead late in the fourth quarter. |
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| Adam Parada gets congratulatory high-fives for his late-game heroics against Powerade. |
TALK N TEXT TROPANG TEXTERS over RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO-PAINTERS, 102-90
Talk ‘N Text is now assured of at least a playoff for an outright semifinal berth while Rain or Shine is out of the tourney. In a crucial road game at the Hoops Dome here Saturday night, the Tropang Texters pounced on the Elasto Painters in the last three quarters for a 102-90 win that moved the reigning champs a win away from an outright semis passage in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Rain or Shine, semifinalist in the Philippine Cup, moved out of contention for the second conference playoffs as it ended its elims stint at 3-6. This will be the first the Elasto Painters won’t be advancing past the eliminations in four conferences under head coach Yeng Guiao. B-Meg, Barangay Ginebra, Powerade and Barako Bull are still in contention for the other outright semis slot.
A three-way tie among Talk ‘N Text, B-Meg and Barangay Ginebra may ensue at 6-3 at the end of the elims. In this scenario, the Llamados gain the first outright semis berth on a superior PBA quotient while the Tropang Texters and the Kings dispute the other outright semis berth via a playoff on Friday.
Donnell Harvey wound up with a game-high 32 points and 16 rebounds as against Duke Crews’ 25 markers. Alapag, Kelly Williams and Fonacier added 17, 15 and 13, respectively, for the Texters who continued to miss the services of injured reserve center Ali Peek.
TNT 102 – Harvey 32, Alapag 17, Williams 15, Fonacier 13, De Ocampo 8, Castro 6, Reyes 5, Carey 2, Aguilar 2, Raymundo 2, Dillinger 0, Gamalinda 0.
ROS 90 – Crews 25, Lee 18, Chan 13, Arana 13, Belga 6, Quinahan 4, Cruz 4, Buenafe 3, Norwood 2, Ibanes 2, Tang 0.
QS: 24-24, 52-42, 75-61, 102-90.
B-MEG LLAMADOS over POWERADE TIGERS, 96-94
For B-Meg head coach Tim Cone, Powerade's Gary David looked as if he could go another two games.
"I'm certainly more exhausted than David," he related. "David looked like he could go another 96 minutes."
David just wants one quarter to be played out anew.
Specifically, the last 5.1 seconds of Sunday's game, when a crucial free throw miss by David virtually enabled the Llamados to escape with a 96-94 win that that assured them of at least a playoff spot for an automatic semifinals berth at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in the penultimate playdate of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations.
Down by three, the Tigers had the chance to tie when David got fouled on a three point attempt by Denzel Bowles. To their consternation, David's first attempt rattled out. Left with no other choice, David made the second one and intentionally flubbed the third.
Bowles notched game-highs of 29 points and 18 rebounds and Josh Urbiztondo finished with 15 points and 7 assists as B-Meg finished the nine-game eliminations with a 6-3 win-loss slate.
David wound up with a team-high 25 and also became the 64th and latest member of the league 5,000-point club, a plateau he reached with his first of two charities at the 3:43 mark of the third period. But David saved his biggest explosion for the game in the fourth period, when he scattered 12 points and led a comeback that put Powerade from an 81-92 deficit to within 93-94.
Despite being a doubtful starter due to an over-extended Achilles tendon that needed overnight therapy James Yap still managed to score 15 points.
BML 96 - Bowles 29, Urbiztondo 15, Yap 15, Pingris 12, Simon 7, Intal 6, Reavis 4, De Ocampo 4, Barroca 2, Villanueva 2.
POW 94 - David 25, Lassiter 17, Jones 11, Anthony 11, Kramer 9, Casio 8, Antonio 5, Lingganay 3, Allera 2, Cruz 2, Adducul 1, Vanlandingham 0.
QS: 24-21, 46-43, 73-63, 96-94
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| Josh Urbiztondo had a breakout performance against JV Casio and the Tigers. (image by Leslie Sy/InterAKTV.com) |
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| Denzel Bowles entertains questions after outplaying the Powerade big men. (image by Leslie Sy/InterAKTV.com) |
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| Gary David missed some crucial shots in the fourth period that sealed the fate for Powerade. (image by Leslie Sy/InterAKTV.com) |
BGY. GINEBRA KINGS over BARAKO BULL ENERGY, 91-81
Barangay Ginebra started the final half with a flurry and coasted over Barako Bull as
the Kings became the fourth team to make the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs.
At 5-4, the Kings have a shot at a playoff for an outright semifinal entry in their game versus the Air21 Express. Talk n Text, at 6-2, and B-Meg, at 6-3, are the two other teams in the hunt for an outright semis passage. The Kings settle for a quarters slot if they drop their game versus the Express. Alaska, at 5-4, is the other team that has booked a seat in the quarters.
Mark Caguioa finished with a game-high 25 points while Jackson Vroman wound up with 19 points and 13 rebounds as the Kings stopped the Barako run, sending the Energy to a 4-5 finish in the elims. The Energy gain outright quarters entry should Ginebra beat Air21 on Wednesday, but they figure in a knockout in case the Express prevail.
BGK 91 - Caguioa 25, Vroman 19, Cortez 12, Hatfield 10, Ababou 7, Wilson W. 6, Raymundo 6, Villanueva 4, Wilson J. 2, Labagala 0.
BBE 81 - White 19, Miller 11, Seigle 11, Najorda 10, Tubid 8, Allado 8, Weinstein 5, Arboleda 5, Aquino 2, Pena 2, Pennisi 0.
QS: 20-20, 44-41, 70-55, 91-81
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| Mark Caguioa burst for 25 points to lead the Kings to a pivotal victory over the Energy. (image by Leslie Sy/InterAKTV.com) |
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| Jackson Vroman, Rudy Hatfield, and Rico Maierhoffer look on as the Kings romp past Barako Bull. (image by Leslie Sy/InterAKTV.com) |
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| Rodney White sizes up the defense of Rudy Hatfield down on the low block. (image by Leslie Sy/InterAKTV.com) |
Source: Unless otherwise specified, game recaps were compressed and compiled from PBA.ph
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