PBA Wednesday [October 19, 2011] Results

Source : PBA Official Website
RAIN OR SHINE WINS VS MERALCO

Fired-up by a near fight at the end of the first half, Rain or Shine went on a searing third-quarter
breakaway and held on for an 89-84 win over Meralco in the 2011-12 PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart
Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.

The Elasto Painters went berserk in the third period and ripped the Bolts apart despite their
prolific rookie Paul Lee being neutralized.

Stepping up after the first half marred by a commotion sparked by a collision between Asi Taulava
and Jervy Cruz, the Painters seized control, building a huge lead enough to withstand the Bolts’
endgame chase.

Rain or Shine grabbed second place at 3-1 with Barako Bull stopping Talk n Text, 100-86, earlier in
the day. The Energy forced a tie at third place with the Texters and the Powerade Tigers at 2-1.

The proverbial coolers heads had to separate the two teams after Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao and
Taulava figured in a hot confrontation.

Taulava earlier shoved Cruz then Guiao got into the scene in also pushing the Meralco center.

The Painters were meaner and better at the resumption of play, bamboozling the Bolts, 30-9, to enjoy
a 22-point lead, 71-49, going into the last quarter.

“We made some adjustments at the half and I think it worked. We controlled their big men and took
away their three-pointers. That’s the key, taking away their best options,” said Guiao after the
game.

“It’s a big win as it got us back on the winning track and it pushed us to second place,”
Guiao added.

Though falling behind by 25 at one point, the Bolts managed to crawl back into the fight only to
come up short in their comeback bid, sliding to sixth place at 2-2.

Coach Ryan Gregorio and his troops came charging back and made it close in the end with Guiao
refusing to call a timeout and just letting his boys to ride out the game.

“I felt I had to let the boys play, commit mistake and think through the situation,” said Guiao.

“It can get scary, but that’s the risk you take if you want your team to learn, build confidence
and gain maturity,” Guiao added. “That’s the reason you want a big lead going to the end.”

Averaging 19 points in their first three games, Lee was held to 12 but had crucial assists helping
the Elasto Painters pull through.

Lee set up Larry Rodriguez for back-to-back undergoal stabs moments after Meralco charged to within
five at 79-84 on two triples by Mark Macapagal and a short stab by Gabby Espinas.

Gabe Norwood and Jeff Chan led Rain or Shine with 14 points apiece with Rodriguez also winding up
with a double-digit output with 11.

Macapagal fired a personal season-high of 20 points for Meralco while Espinas and Taulava churned
out double-double numbers combining for 35 points and 21 rebounds. (SB)

The scores:

RAIN OR SHINE 89 - Norwood 14, Chan 14, Lee 12, Rodriguez 11, Buenafe 9, Matias 8, Belga 6, Quinahan
6, Ibanes 5, Arana 4, Cruz 0.

MERALCO 84 - Macapagal 20, Espinas 19, Taulava 16, Lanete 14, Isip 6, Borboran 5, Ballesteros 2,
Omolon 2, Timberlake 0, Yee 0.

Quarterscores: 22-21, 41-40, 71-49, 89-84

BARAKO BULL BEATS TALK AND TEXT LED BY WILLIE MILLER

WILLIE Miller’s heydays are far from over.

The two-time MVP exploded for 27 points and also had six assists, leading an impressive show by
Barako Bull’s veterans that lifted them past erstwhile unbeaten and defending champion Talk ‘N
Text, 100-86, Wednesday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

It was Miller’s highest output in the last five conferences and headlined a sterling show by the
Energy on both ends of the court that stoked their drive to a second straight victory and a 2-1
win-loss slate that tied them with their victims.

“One factor is our defense. Second, our veterans are willing to work on defense and share the
ball. Also, at one game or another, Willie Miller will explode. This was the game,” said Barako
coach Junel Baculi.

“I hope this is not the last,” added the mentor, only half in jest.

“Dahil bago iyung team hindi nila inaasahan kung sino i-score. Naka-tsamba lang ngayon,” said
Miller, who last scored as much while he was still with Alaska during the 2009-2010 Philippine Cup
when he notched 29.

Asked why it took him long enough, Miller replied: “Sa gamit lang siguro. Sa Alaska, then Ginebra
marami kaming guwardiya. Ngayon dito napa-tiyempo.

“Basta panalo kahit sino umi-score.”

Jayson Castro scored 23 points, the bulk coming at the height of TNT’s fightback from as much as
two 22-point deficits, the last at 30-52, to within 67-73.

“Miller Time” then took over as he strung up five straight points and Mick Pennisi also drained
two triples in headlining some clutch baskets that quashed whatever hopes the Tropang Texters may
have had.  

Dylan Ababou turned in a second straight 20-point performance while Pennisi finished with 18 points,
his best output since the 2008-09 Philippine Cup, and seven rebounds like the rookie.

Although they did not score as much, the likes of mid-30s players Don Carlos Allado, Dorian Pena and
Wynne Arboleda also gave significant contributions on defense that enabled Barako Bull to jump out
to the early lead and take a 52-33 cushion at the half.

“We worked hard for this,” said Baculi. “Talk ‘N Text is a champion team, that’s why I was
surprised we went up by 19 at halftime. But I expected a very big comeback, Talk ‘N Text being a
champion team.”

“Expected naming ang pressure (defense) nila,” related Miller. “Pero ang akala namin halfcourt
lang. Bigla silang nag-full court pressure. “

Jimmy Alapag suited up for the first time but was hardly a factor, although his lone basket -- a
triple -- helped move TNT within 80-87.

Ababou then sank a charity off Tropang Texters’ coach Chot Reyes’ technical before combining
with Miller and Pennisi in staking the Energy to an unassailable 97-82 spread, only 1:42 left. (NC)

The scores:

BARAKO 100 -Miller 27, Ababou 20, Pennisi 18, Allado 9, Maliksi 8, Najorda 6, Artadi 4, Arboleda 3,
Pena 3, Salvacion 2, Salvador 0.

TALK 'N TEXT 86 - Castro 23, Reyes 16, Dillinger 10, Aban 10, Peek 8, Fonacier 6, Carey 6, Aguilar
4, Alapag 3, Raymundo 0, Alvarez 0, Lao 0.

Quarterscores: 25-11, 52-33, 71-62, 100-86