SIZZLING BOOSTERS TACKLE HOT & COLD TEXTERS
Going on an amazing unbeaten streak after a losing conference debut, the Petron Blaze Boosters are now a heartbeat away from a Top Four finish in the PBA Governors’ Cup eliminations.
The Boosters pursue their Top Four aspirations and its precious twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals as they tangle with the on-and-off Talk n Text Tropang Texters at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.
They play at 7:30 p.m. with a win guaranteeing the Boosters of at least a tie for No. 4 spot at the close of the short one-round-robin elims phase.
Red-hot Petron Blaze started with a 13-2 run and roared mightily to the finish, rolling past Barako Bull, 112-87, on Sept. 3 to remain the team everyone’s chasing in the tourney.
The Boosters are well rested and highly motivated as they set out for win No. 6 versus the Tropang Texters.
The only worry of Petron Blaze coach Gie Abanilla is his troops getting complacent.
“We’re on top, and there’s a danger there. If we believe the hype and all the good things we’ve been hearing, it could be a cause for complacency. We don’t want that,” Abanilla said.
Abanilla wants his team to continue to fight with a deep sense of urgency and go all out against Talk n Text.
At 2-3, the Texters have no other choice but to do the same.
“It’s basically a must-win situation for us,” said Talk n Text coach Norman Black.
“Starting with my import Tony Mitchell, the focus has to be to play better defense,” Black added. “We have proven we can score points but we must give a better effort on the other end of the court.”
The Texters are in danger of not making the Top Four, having lost three of their last four games.
The bad news is they’re facing a rival that’s in a zone.
The Boosters scored almost at will, hitting as high as 70 percent in the second quarter in their blowout win over the Barako Bull Energy.
They built a 93-69 lead at the end of the third period and kept a huge gap all the way till the end despite import Elijah Millsap sitting out the last 13 minutes of play.
Millsap collected 31 points, nine rebounds, four assists and one steal though seeing action in only 31 minutes. Arwind Santos and Chris Lutz contributed 20 and 19 points, respectively, as the Boosters dished out one of their best games in the tourney thus far.
The Boosters were as efficient on defense, holding down the Energy to their least productive game this conference. (SB)
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