Sizzling boosters

Games today

Araneta Coliseum

4:15 p.m.- Air21 vs. Talk ‘N Text

6:30 p.m.- Barangay Ginebra vs. Rain or Shine

The Petron Boosters pocketed their third win in a row after they blasted Barako Bull Energy Cola, 93-83, last night in an out-of-town game of the 38th PBA Philippine Cup in Lucena City.

The Boosters cut loose from a tight battle in the first three quarters with a terrific start in the fourth en route to tallying their sixth victory against the same number of defeats.

The win allowed Petron to tie sister-team Barangay Ginebra for the sixth and seventh spots in the team standings.

Arwind Santos was big on both ends of the floor, firing 21 points and hauling down 12 rebounds.

The game was close in the first three quarters with Barako Bull even leading at one point in the third, 55-51. Petron stole the upper-hand at the end of the third, 68-62, before breaking Barako Bull’s back with a 10-to-nothing run to open the final period.

The Boosters led by as many as 16 points but Barako Bull cut its deficit to just 10, 72-82, inside the final minutes.

Alex Cabagnot dropped a triple while being fouled by Celino Cruz, completing a rare four-point play to extend the lead back to 14, 86-72, time down to 4:24.

Barako Bull wobbled the rest of the way and went on to absorb its third straight defeat and dropped to ninth place with a 3-8 (win-loss) card.

The defeat spoiled the solid performance of Doug Kramer who scattered 15 points and 21 big rebounds.

With the defeat, Bong Ramos remained winless since taking the head coaching job from Junel Baculi.

Meanwhile, games resume today at the Araneta Coliseum with the Air21 Express facing the might Talk N Text Tropang Texters in the first game and Barangay Ginebra colliding with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the main game.

The defending champions Texters lead the standings with a 9-2 slate, while Air21 is at seventh place with a 4-7 card. Rain or Shine is tied at second place with San Mig Coffee with similar 8-3 records.