Hold off winless Shopinas.com Clickers, 102-84

Game today (Naga City)

6 p.m.- Meralco vs. Petron

The Powerade Tigers earned a much-needed win, using a strong second half attack to turn back the winless Shopinas.com Clickers, 102-84, last night in the 37th PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Tigers snapped a four-game slide and, more importantly, improved their chances of earning a playoff as they climbed to eighth spot by improving to 4-7 (win-loss).

Powerade went into the game looking to create some space with the Alaska Aces, who are in ninth place with a 3-8 record and effectively accomplished that mission.

The two teams with worst records after the eliminations will take an early vacation as only eight squads will qualify to the playoffs.

Marcio Lassiter scored a game-high 21 points, Doug Kramer contributed 17 while Gary David had 16 for the Tigers, who just led by seven at the bend, 50-43, before pulling away in the third.

The Tigers broke the game wide open in the third and took a big 84-64 lead with only one quarter to play.

With the loss, the Clickers further dropped to the bottom of the standings with their 12th defeat in as many games.

James Sena topped the Clickers with 19 points while Elmer Espiritu, Pong Escobal and Paolo Hubalde finished with 12 markers apiece.

The 18-point loss put Shopinas.com just a loss away from tying the all-time longest losing streak in the league.

The defunct Great Taste and Countryfair own the all-time longest losing streak when they lost 13 straight games in the 1982 Reinforced Conference and in the 1984 All-Filipino Conference, respectively.

BOX SCORES

POWERADE 102 – Lassiter 21, Kramer 17, David 16, Cruz 9, Antonio 9, Adducul 8, Casio 6, Crisano 6, Anthony 5, Vanlandingham 3, Lingganay 2, Martinez 0, Allera 0.

SHOPINAS .COM 84 – Sena 19, Espiritu 12, Escobal 12, Hubalde 12, Sison 7, Menor 5, Duncil 4, Daa 4, Ritualo 4, Jazul 2, Se 2, Canta 1, Bagatsing 0, Aquino 0. QUARTERSCORES: 28-28, 50-43, 84-64,102-84.