Petron Blaze got a big boost from Fil-Am rookie Chris Lutz' return as it sent Rain or Shine back toearth with a 90-80 victory Sunday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Arwind Santos led the team with 25 points including the two-handed monster jam in the end that
sealed it but it was the talented Lutz, who sat out two games due to a hamstring injury, who made
things happen after firing 22 points that he laced with three triples as the Boosters moved up to
third place with a 6-3 (win-loss) slate.
"Pinahinga naman siya sa Shopinas para 100 percent siya so maganda tulong din nakabalik siya agad,"
said Petron coach Ato Agustin referring to Lutz, a former Smart Gilas Pilipinas standout picked
third overall in this year's rookie draft.
Alex Cabagnot had 16 points he spiked with 11 assists, five boards and two steals while Joseph Yeo
chipped in 16 markers including five that helped in quashing a late rally by Rain or Shine.
The loss thus sent the Elasto Painters sprawling to their first loss since going on a five-game tear
when they averaged 20-plus points in hurdling their foes. They fell to 7-2 overall.
Agustin credited the win to their strong start.
"Maganda start namin, first two quarters we were really coming at them," said Agustin. "This is
because our game plan worked, we limit their running and fastbreak game, that was the key."
Thanks to Lutz' continuous bombing, the Boosters kept the Elasto Painters away and led after three
quarters, 72-51.
Petron Blaze jumped the gun on Rain or Shine early as it roared to a 22-12 lead after the first
quarter with Joseph Yeo and Chris Lutz leading the way with six and five points, respectively.
The second quarter was no different as the Boosters continued to outscore the Elasto Painters,
22-11, to go into the halftime break comfortably ahead, 44-33.
Lutz, who is back after missing two games due to a hamstring injury, showed his eagerness to return
to court and quickly impressed by uncorking 11 points in the first 24 minutes of play, a point ahead
of teammate Arwind Santos.
Petron shot respectably well from the field after making 19 of its 40 shots there while Rain or
Shine was just the opposite and muffed 27 of the 32 shots it attempted for a miserable 15.6 percent.
(JV)
The scores:
PETRON 90 - Santos 25, Lutz 22, Cabagnot 16, Yeo 14, Miranda 4, Ildefonso 4, Reyes 3, Agustin 2,
Doruelo 0, Baclao 0, Sharma 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 80 - Chan 15, Quinahan 15, Belga 9, Rodriguez 9, Norwood 8, Buenafe 8, Lee 6, Matias
5, Arana 5, Cruz 0, Ibanes 0.
Quarters: 22-12, 44-23, 72-51, 90-80
James Yap desperately struggled with his shooting nearly all night but still managed to rescue his
team when the going got tough.
The two-time Most Valuable Player knocked in two huge shots in the second overtime that led to a
barrage of baskets and propelled B-Meg to a 92-89 decision past Alaska in the two-team’s PBA
Philippine Cup elimination round rematch Sunday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
After going 2 of 11 in the second half and 1 of 4 in the first overtime, James Yap went made all
four of his attempts in the second extra period.
Alaska held an 81-80 lead 20 minutes into second overtime when James Yap scored four straight points
that led to a 12-9 blast. He capped his performance with a 12-foot jumper over Tony dela Cruz that
shoved B-Meg ahead to stay, 84-83 with 2:53 to play.
“It was an epic game. It was a game of big shots and big stops. Every possession seemed that way.
The only difference is that we had James on our side and they (Alaska) didn’t,” offered B-Meg
coach Tim Cone.
James Yap eventually finished with 24 points on an 11 of 26 shooting from the floor.
Their third straight win shot the Llamados into a tie with the Meralco Bolts for fifth and sixth
spots.
“Hopefully, this will be the turning point of our season,” Cone said.
The B-meg coach said he felt the game was slipping their grasp when they fell behind by six points
(67-73) with four minutes left in regulation.
But the Llamados kept their poise and came up with crucial stops that got them back into the game.
Kerby Raymundo tied the game at the end of regulation with a hard drive to the basket off Jay-R
Reyes with 44 second remaining.
“I had that feeling that the game was slipping away. But we managed to hang on and somehow make
big stops. This team … they really think they could make stops when they need to. I think our
defense was the key,” Cone said.
Rookie Mark Barroca, who played for 31 minutes in the absence of the injure PJ Simon, scored a
career-high 22 points and Raymundo added 14 for the Llamados, who won despite making just one of 15
attempts from 3-point range and shooting just 45 percent from the field.
The Aces, who were seeking revenge for an 81-75 loss to B-Meg in their first meeting last October
12, appeared to have the game well under control when they opened the first overtime with a 7-2 run
and took an 80-75 lead with 2:21 remaining.
But they couldn’t sustain it, going scoreless the rest of the way, falling to a 1-7 (win-loss)
record and being in danger of elimination.
L.A Tenorio had an excellent game and led all scorers with a second career-best 28 points. But he
played sparingly in the extra periods because of cramps.
Cyrus Baguio scored 17 points and had 10 boards while Jay-r Reyes added 14 and 13 rebounds as Alaska
outrebounded B-Meg, 59-54. (DBC)
The scores:
B-MEG 92 - Yap J. 24, Barroca 22, Raymundo 14, Pingris 10, De Vance 9, Maierhofer 5, Urbiztondo 2,
Ferriols 2, Reavis 2, Yap R. 2.
ALASKA 89 - Tenorio 28, Baguio 17, Reyes 14, Thoss 13, Baracael 7, Custodio 4, Dela Cruz 4, Eman 2,
Salamat 0, Sotto 0.
Quarterscores: 22-25, 34-35, 56-53, 73-73, 80-80, 92-89
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