PETRON BLAZE TAKES GAME 1

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With tremendous push from Elijah Millsap and Junmar Fajardo, Petron Blaze kept going and made a 24-year franchise-best of 10th straight win in the opener of their PBA Governors Cup Final Four duel with Rain or Shine Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Millsap and Fajardo delivered personal record numbers as the Boosters repulsed the fierce-fighting Elasto Painters, 91-83, in Game One of their best-of-five semis showdown.

Millsap poured in a PBA best of 41 points while Fajardo snared a career-high 17 rebounds that went with 15 points as Petron sustained its searing run dating back to the early goings of the tourney.

They’ve gone unbeaten in their last 10 games, matching a streak the franchise established in its grand slam feat in 1989.

Rookie head coach Gie Abanilla and his troops have a shot at setting a new record for the proud SMC ball club in Game Two Wednesday over at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

“We can’t afford to lose the edge. We’ve got the series head start. We have to make good use of it,” said Abanilla.

“We made it close and we had a chance to win it in the end. It’s also morale booster on our part,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

“Despite our limitations, though we’re missing Paul Lee and Jeff (Chan) not in his usual stride, we gave them a good fight. It proved that Petron Blaze is not unbeatable,” Guiao also said.

The E-Painters engaged the Boosters in a battle marked by seven deadlocks and six lead changes.

Rain or Shine fought back from a 10-point deficit early in the third quarter and sustained the momentum in the fourth quarter to move ahead at 77-73.

The Boosters were held scoreless in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, but Millsap regained his bearing in time to bail Petron out of trouble.

Millsap scored 11 straight points before Alex Cabagnot and Fajardo also came through with clutch hits of their own as the Boosters put the E-Painters away at the finish.

“We definitely did something good in this game. Maybe, we’re just doing minor adjustments here and there in the next game,” said Abanilla.

The Boosters made good use of their matchup advantages in Game One with Cabagnot creating plays, Fajardo imposing his huge presence at the paint and Millsap punishing the E-Painters practically from all over the floor.

Millsap went 3-of-5 from the three-point area, 11-of-23 from the two-point zone and 10-of-16 from the stripe to improve his previous best of 35.

Fajardo, meanwhile, wrought havoc at the paint, collecting nine defensive rebounds and eight offensive caroms – three better than his previous mark.

Cabagnot was also a big help, putting in 18 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. (SB)

The scores:

Petron 91 – Millsap 41, Cabagnot 18, Fajardo 15, Lassiter 4, Santos 4, Tubid 4, Lanete 3, Lutz 2, Kramer 0, Ildefonso 0.

Rain or Shine 83 – Reid 28, Chan 16, Belga 7, Arana 7, Matias 6, Rodriguez 6, Cruz 5, Uyloan 4, Norwood 2, Tiu 1, Tang 1, Quinahan 0, Ibanes 0.

Quarters: 26-23, 49-44, 73-68, 91-83

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