If the Petron Blaze Boosters are to make their mark in the upcoming PBA Governor’s Cup, they can pinpoint Cebu as the place which started the ball rolling.
This after they came all the way back from an 18-point deficit to defeat the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños, 94-90, in a heated and intensity-filled exhibition game last Saturday night at the Cebu Coliseum.
The Blaze Boosters, formerly the San Miguel Beermen, are looking forward towards changing their fortunes after a disastrous showing in the Commissioner’s Cup, where they finished in dead last in the standings.
And for a while there, the visitors appeared headed towards another humiliating defeat as they got down, 52-70, midway through the third period as the Niños shot torridly from the field and let go of a 13-5 run anchored on Ian Saladaga and Bruce Dacia.
However, Petron, with their pride at stake, came alive and roared back into the ballgame behind the efforts of Joseph Yeo, Arwind Santos, Paolo Hubalde and Rabeh Al-Hussaini.
After a long pursuit, they finally caught up and tied the game at 85-all off a Santos fade-away jumper.
The Niños got a brief respite from the onslaught as they took the lead once more at 88-85 after a three-pointer by Felix Belano.
Petron kept on coming and took a 91-88 lead off a 6-0 run that saw two slashing lay-ups from Yeo and two free-throws from Hubalde.
An inside stab by Abby Santos got the Niños within one on their next attack and they actually had a chance to take the lead after the Blaze Boosters missed on their possession. However, Saladaga missed a three-point attempt from the wing off a great feed from Jayford Rodriguez.
After a free-throw make by Hubalde which pegged the score at 92-90, the Niños still had one more chance for a tie or even the lead but the bungled it as the ball was tapped away from Belano, which led to a soaring dunk from Santos for the final tally.
Santos ended up with 21 points while Yeo had 20. Jay Washington also added 14.
The Niños were paced by the 16 of Saladaga and the 15 each of Rodriguez and Abby Santos.
The Niños are gearing up for the Liga Pilipinas V 2nd leg, which kicks off this Wednesday at the same venue.