PETRON WHIPS TNT FOR SHARE OF LEAD
Petron Blaze has gone two of two while in the process of picking up the pieces of a shattered dream in the last conference.
After a triumphant debut versus the Globalport Batang Pier Wednesday, the Boosters made it two in a row in the PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup with a lopsided 77-63 win over the Talk n Text Tropang Texters Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Boosters built a huge lead early in the game and stayed in control to the very end, handing the defending champs Texters their first loss in the tourney.
“We’re happy with the effort that we gave. We’re kind of short-handed but managed with what we had, especially with the defense that we put up at the start,” said Petron coach Gee Abanilla.
“Good defense allowed us a good start, and we’re able to keep good cushion till the end,” Abanilla also said.
Arwind Santos, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Lutz, Junmar Fajardo and Doug Kramer all put in double-digit outputs for the Boosters who unloaded big bombs in the first half before relying much on defense in the final half.
Down by 23 at the half, the Tropang Texters rallied to within 10, 63-73, but went scoreless in the last 3:30 of play.
Lutz buried two free throws then Santos knocked in a 10-footer, dousing cold water on the Texters’ endgame chase.
Santos, last season’s MVP winner, piled up 15 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and one steal. Fajardo and Kramer produced double-double numbers, combining for 20 points and 22 rebounds while Lassiter and Lutz added 13 and 12 markers, respectively.
Jayson Castro paced the losing team with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists.
The Texters just couldn’t get going while shooting only 27.2 percent from the field.
Petron pummeled Talk n Text hard in the first two quarters, thus, sitting on a 23-point cushion, 55-32, at the turn.
The Boosters were efficient on both ends as they outscored the Texters, 22-12, in the opening canto and, 33-20, in the second period.
The biggest difference was the Boosters hitting 52.6 percent of their shots as against the Texters’ woeful 26.2-percent clip. (SB)
The scores:
Petron 77 – Santos 15, Lassiter 13, Lutz 12, Fajardo 10, Kramer 10, Hubalde 8, Ross 6, Deutchman 3, Duncil 0.
Talk N’ Text 63 – Castro 15, Baclao 10, Alapag 9, Fonacier 8, Anthony 7, Poligrates 4, Williams 3, Aban 2, Ferriols 2, Carey 2, Peek 1, Reyes 0.
FEATURED STORIES
Quarters: 22-12, 55-32, 68-51, 77-63
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