Source: pba.ph
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.
"This time they missed three free throws than hit a big three(-point shot)," quipped Cone.
Dwayne Jones and Sean Anthony had their tries at a putback, but missed those, too, and the final
buzzer sounded with the ball firmly lodged under Marc Pingris' body following the ensuing scramble.
Bowles notched game-highs of 29 points and 18 rebounds and Josh Urbiztondo finished with 15 points
and seven 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.
"By the fourth quarter our guys' tongues were hanging out," said Cone. "They do a good job wearing
you out. They keep chasing and chasing and chasing. We couldn't lay down the defense we wanted to
play."
It was then that Jayvee Casio committed a crucial error, issuing a pass that got picked off by
Urbiztondo, who then canned two charities that made it a three-point game, only 10.7 seconds left.
In the end, B-Meg kept its hold on second place and could clinch a top two finish should leader Talk
‘N Text lose its last game against Ginebra and the Kings split their last two eliminations
assignments.
"Big win for us," said Cone.
The loss was Powerade's second straight, dropping it to a 4-5 slate. By virtue of a better quotient,
however, the Tigers could still make it outright to the quarterfinals, with the posasibility of
playing off for the No. 6 slot against Barako Bull or Meralco their worst-case scenario.
Despite being a doubtful starter due to an over-extended Achilles tendon that needed overnight
therapy James Yap still managed to score 15 points.
The two-time MVP missed his first eight shots but drained his first basket, a triple that made it a
61-50 count, 6:01 left in the third period. He seemed to have hit his stride then as he boomed in
two more treys and had a total 13 for the period, helping stretch B-Meg's lead to a high of 73-59.
(NC)
The scores:
B-MEG 96 - Bowles 29, Urbiztondo 15, Yap 15, Pingris 12, Simon 7, Intal 6, Reavis 4, De Ocampo 4,
Barroca 2, Villanueva 2.
POWERADE 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.
Quarterscores: 24-21, 46-43, 73-63, 96-94
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