Games today:
Araneta Coliseum
4:15 p.m.- Powerade vs. Barako Bull
6:30 p.m.- Talk ‘N Text vs. Brgy Ginebra
THE PETRON Blaze Boosters rode on the game-long brilliance of Joseph Yeo to chalk up an 86-80 win over the Alaska Aces last night in out-of-town game of the 37th PBA Philippine Cup at the packed Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City.
Yeo had his finest game in a long while, scattering 27 points that went along with nine rebounds.
Yeo also helped Petron contain Alaska’s endgame rally by firing 11 of his total output in the fourth as the Boosters snapped a three-game slide to improve to 4-3 (win-loss).
The loss pulled the Aces back to earth as they succumbed to their sixth loss in seven games, failing to get another win after posting a breakthrough 93-72 win over the Barako Bull in their last game.
Alaska led by a point at the bend, 43-42, but came out sloppy in the third where they fell into a maze of errors, allowing the Boosters to steal the upper-hand, 63-56, entering the fourth.
LIGHTS OUT
Alaska continued to sputter in the fourth as Petron posted a 74-64 lead.
Power interruption halted the game for about five minutes. The game was temporarily stopped at the 7:46 mark of the fourth.
When play resumed, Denok Miranda converted an acrobatic layup, giving the Boosters a 76-64 edge.
Alaska tried to come back as Mac Baracael ignited a 9-0 blast with a three-pointer and the Aces moved within 77-80, with 3:21 left.
Alex Cabagnot broke the Boosters’ silence with a good-looking reversed layup, giving Petron an 82-77 advantage with 3:02 left.
Tenorio answered with his own layup and Baracael made a split free throw that brought the Aces to within 80-82, with 1:35 left. Alaska would not score from that point on.
Yeo completed a hard drive to the basket in the ensuing play and the Boosters’ defense held up in the waning moments to seal the hard-earned victory. /EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA