The Powerade Tigers proved the steadier team at endgame, chalking up a 109-91 win over the Air21 Express last night in the 36th PBA Governors’ Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Tigers held the Express to just four points in the final 2:54, breaking free from what was once a tight contest to finally salvage their first win in the tournament following two straight losses.
The Express on the other hand, remained winless in three games.
From a slim 90-87 lead, the Tigers broke the game wide open with a 19-4 endgame attack, a telling run that saw the Express losing their composure.
With the Tigers leading, 94-89, the Express started to self-destruct when Elmer Espiritu’s basket was nullified after he was called for a traveling violation.
Sean Anthony then nailed a running layup in the next play while being fouled by Espiritu.
A frustrated Danny Seigle slapped the ball hard after that foul on Espiritu. The ball hit a referee that netted Seigle two technical fouls that resulted in his ejection.
Anthony completed his three-point play and Jai Reyes dropped two free throws off Seigle’s unsportsmanlike conduct as the Express all but settled the outcome of the contest after padding it’s lead to 99-89 with 2:03 left.
Chris Porter scored a team-high 22 points but it was the solid showing of the Powerade locals that spelled the winning difference.
Anthony scored 21 points, Celino Cruz scattered 18 while Reyes and Norman Gonzales pitched 14 apiece.
Seigle paced the Express with a game-high 23 points, while Dondon Hontiveros contributed 13. Alpha Bangura managed just 10 markers and was again a non-factor in the fourth where he just scored four points.
Bangura scored just one point in the fourth quarter of their 94-116 loss to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and could only muster two points in their 106-115 defeat against the Petron Blaze Boosters.
BOX SCORES
POWERADE (109) – Porter 22, Anthony 21, Cruz 18, Reyes J. 14, Gonzales 14, Rizada 4, Macapagal 4, Reyes R. 3, Allera 2, Lanete 2, Espino 2, Antonio 2, Quinahan 1.
AIR21 (91) Seigle 23, Hontiveros 13, Bangura 10, Canaleta 8, Salvador 7, Avenido 7, Arboleda 5, Espiritu 4, Najorda 4, Sharma 4, Artadi 4, Cabahug 2, Urbiztondo 0. QUARTERSCORES: 20-28, 52-47, 73-68, 109-91.