Boosters still ‘underdogs’

Game Wednesday:
Tubod, Lanao del Norte
7 p.m.- Petron vs. Talk ‘N Text

Following a nerve-wracking win in Game 1, the Petron Blaze Boosters try to put more pressure on the highly favored Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters as the best-of-seven championship showdown of the 36th PBA Governors’ Cup goes to Tubod, Lanao del Norte today.

The Boosters stunned the Texters in Game 1 with veteran forward Danny Ildefonso hitting a buzzer-beating shot that towed his team to a 98-97 victory.

Ildefonso’s heroics capped Petron’s comeback from a 16-point deficit, pulling off a stunner in a series that many believe will be dominated by the grand slam-seeking Texters.

“Underdog pa rin, kasi undermanned kami,” Petron coach Ato Agustin told pba.ph. “Pero I think nakatulong kasi lahat nag-step up.”

“Almost everybody expected na 4-0 ang Talk ‘N Text at parang pinagbigyan kami. I hope they will continue na pagbigyan kami,” Agustin added.

Offense has been Talk ‘N Text’s main weapon all conference long but in Game 1, it failed to break the 90-point barrier after scoring 55 points in the first two quarters of play.

After avergaing 21.4 points a game, import Scottie Reynolds was a big disappointment for the Texters in Game 1, where he just managed four points.

Anthony Grundy, for his part, was a big contributor for the Boosters as he finished with 17 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists and also had five steals.

Grundy also dished out the crucial pass to Ildefonso for that game-winning shot.

The 34-year-old Ildefonso was just one of the four Petron locals who scored in double figures with 13 points.