Beat Bolts in final assignment of 36th PBA Governor’s Cup
The Powerade Tigers bowed out of the 36th PBA Governors’ Cup in style, scoring a close 86-81 win over the Meralco Bolts last night at the Araneta Coliseum.
Celino Cruz drilled in a tie-breaking triple, saving the Tigers from the rampaging Bolts, who came back from an 11-point deficit in the final five minutes.
Powerade and Meralco, along with the Air21 Express, are the early casualties in the season-ending tournament. But it didn’t look like a no-bearing game for the Tigers and the Bolts, who figured in a fierce encounter.
The Tigers roared to a 79-68 lead inside the final minutes but the Bolts fought back behind Champ Oguchi, Mark Cardona and Solomon Mercado, who ignited a 13-2 run that allowed Meralco to tie the contest at 81-all with 58 seconds left.
But Cruz came to the Tigers’ rescue by canning a booming triple with 32.2 seconds left before William Antonio iced the win for the Tigers by sinking two free throws with 21.1 seconds to play.
The Tigers finished the tournament winning their last two games, ending their campaign with an even 4-4 (win-loss) record.
Article continues after this advertisementPowerade and semifinal-bound B-Meg Llamados actually finished with similar records after the eight-game elimination round but the latter advanced to the semis due to their superior quotient.
Article continues after this advertisementGary David led the Tigers with 17 points, while Chris Porter added 15 points and 16 rebounds. Chico Lanete scored 14 markers and Dennis Espino had 10.
The Tigers are looking forward to a better stint in the next season as Kenneth Duremdes is expected to make a comeback, thus, giving the team much-needed leadership on the court.
Duremdes once acted as the team’s head coach before he was installed to his current position as alternate team governor.
Oguchi, who was reinstated after being temporarily replaced by Tim Pickett, scattered a game-high 27 points, Sol Mercado netted 20 and Mark Cardona had 13 for the Bolts, who finished their campaign with a 3-5 slate.
BOX SCORES
POWERADE (86)- David 17, Porter 15, Lanete 14, Espino 10, Reyes R. 7, Antonio 7, Reyes J. 5, Cruz 5, Quinahan 2, Macapagal 2, Laure 2, Allera 0.
MERALCO (81) – Oguchi 27, Mercado 20, Cardona 13, Isip 6, Hugnatan 6, Aljamal 3, Menor 2, Espinas 2, Taulava 2, Weinstein 0, Omolon 0, Ritualo 0. QUARTERSCORES: 15-16, 39-32, 64-61, 86-81.
