Derby Ace guard leads team to victory despite subpar performance by import Hannah
Game today:
Tubod, Lanao del Norte
6 p.m.- Alaska vs. Meralco
Peter June Simon more than made up for Stefhon Hannah’s lethargic showing, firing a whopping 33 points to lead the Derby Ace Llamados to a 103-90 triumph over the Powerade Tigers last night in the 36th PBA Governors’ Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Simon was brilliant on the floor, going 12-for-14 from the field and shot 6-for-7 from the free throw area as the Llamados barged into the win column after dropping its initial game against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 82-95.
Hannah could only score eight points in that loss and had the same number of points against the Tigers. But his subpar performance hardly mattered with the locals stepping up big time.
Aside from Simon, new recruit Joe Devance also churned in big numbers, contributing 21 points as he provided the Llamados more scoring threat with the continued absence of injured star forward Kerby Raymundo.
James Yap added 14 points for the Llamados, who actually started slow and trailed the Tigers at the end of the first period, 20-33.
With Simon starting to heat up, the Llamados owned the second period and found themselves up by a point at the bend, 49-48.
Derby Ace stepped on the gas in the third and never looked back after closing the third with a 74-64 advantage.
After scoring 38 points in their 80-92 loss to the Barangay Ginebra Kings, import Chris Porter managed just 17 points as the Tigers stayed winless in two tries.
Mark Macapagal scored 13 points, Sean Anthony added 12, while Chico Lanete donated 11 for the Tigers, who is badly missing the services of Gary David.
David is expected to miss several games due to a broken bone in the left hand he suffered during a tune-up game against Ginebra.
BOX SCORES :
DERBY ACE (103) – Simon 33, De Vance 21, Yap J. 14, Hannah 8, Allado 8, Yap R. 7, Gaco 6, Pingris 4, Villanueva 2, Fernandez 0.
POWERADE (90) – Porter 17, Macapagal 13, Anthony 12, Lanete 11, Quinahan 9, Calimag 8, Gonzales 8, Allera 5, Reyes R. 4, Cruz 3, Reyes J. 0, Rizada 0, Espino 0.
QUARTERSCORES: 20-33, 49-48, 74-64, 103-90.
