Petron logs 2nd straight win to gain share of lead in PBA
Games today
Araneta Coliseum
4:15 p.m.- Barako Bull vs. Alaska
6:30 p.m.- Brgy. Ginebra vs. B-Meg
The defending champions Petron Blaze Boosters made it two-in-a-row after downing the Meralco Bolts, 101-88, last night in the 37th PBA Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The Boosters moved up to the top spot alongside Rain or Shine Elasto Painters with similar 2-0 (win-loss) cards.
Following up their, 97-83 trashing of the Powerade Tigers, the Boosters were once gain led by Import Eddie Basden, who finished with a game-high tying 24 points.
Jay Washington scored 19 points, Alex Cabagnot chipped in 16, while Arwind Santos and Denok Miranda had 12 and 11 for Petron which took control in the third after a tight first half.
Both teams were tied at 42 at the half but Petron took a, 72-64 lead in the third with one quarter left to play.
It was in the fourth that the Boosters started to build double digit leads which they never relinquished the rest of the way.
Champ Oguchi topped the Bolts with 24 points, while veteran center Asi Taulava and Sol Mercado donated 19 and 17, respectively.
The Bolts started the tournament with 105-99 win against the badly depleted Talk N Text Tropang Texters.
Meanwhile, the Barako Bull Energy and the Barangay Ginebra Kings gun for a share of the lead when they play separate foes today at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Energy take on the Alaska Aces in the first game, while the Kings lock horns with the B-Meg Llamados in the main game.
Barako and Ginebra won in their first assignments with the former blasting the Tigers, 106-101, and the latter demolishing the Air21 Express, 103-85.
Alaska and B-Meg will try to break into the win column after they faltered in their initial games, interestingly against a similar team.
The Aces bowed to the Painters, 101-107, while the Llamados also lost to the same Rain or Shine squad last Friday, 94-100.
BOX SCORES
PETRON (101)- Basden 24, Washington 19, Cabagnot 16, Santos 12, Miranda 11, Lutz 7, Yeo 7, Lanete 3, Ildefonso 2, Reyes 0, Pena 0.
MERALCO (88) – Oguchi 24, Taulava 19, Mercado 17, Cardona 8, Ross 7, Hugnatan 7, Artadi 4, Reyes 2, Macapagal 0. QUARTERSCORES: 20-22, 42-42, 72-64, 101-88.
