PETRON BLAZE FINALLY MAKES PLAYOFFS OF COMMISSIONER’S CUP
PETRON Blaze is back to its long-lost place in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, no little thanks to an import who is fast becoming familiar with the team system.
In only his second game in the league, 23-year-old Henry Sims led the Boosters to an 88-77 win over Barako Bull Friday and into the mid-season tournament’s playoffs at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Sims notched game-highs of 23 points and 13 rebounds and received plenty of help from the likes of Alex Cabagnot, Arwind Santos and Marcio Lassiter as Petron Blaze snapped out of a three-game losing streak and into its seventh win in 12 games.
That slate is enough for the Boosters to secure a place in the ensuing quarterfinals following the 14-game eliminations as it lies just behind leader Alaska (9-3) and second-running Rain or Shine (8-4).
The team formerly known as San Miguel Beer failed to make the playoffs in last two editions of the tournament. Prior to those, the conference named in honor of the league’s Commissioner was last held in 2002, with the Beermen winding up third.
It could get a lot better.
Should Petron Blaze win its last two eliminations games against Air21 and Talk ‘N Text it could even at least playoff for a Top 2 spot providing the Aces and the Elasto Painters fail to improve on their current slates.
Petron head coach Olsen Racela does not want to look that far ahead, though
“Right now we’re not looking at 1-2,” he said.
“We just want to get as many wins. One step at a time lang. Now that we’re in the quarterfinals positioning lang muna ang hinahabol namin. We don’t want to be in a twice-to-win disadvantage.
If we can get more wins, then we’ll see if we can get a top two (slot).”
The loss was Barako’s eighth in 12 games, keeping it at ninth spot. The Energy Cola are now left in a must-win situations against Rain or Shine and GlobalPort to fan their hopes of at least a playoff for the eighth and last slot in the quarterfinals.
Former LA Laker DJ Mbenga’s three-month layoff after an eight-game stint in China showed, but he still led Barako Bull with 14 points and 12 boards in 36 minutes of action.
Allein Maliksi, Sean Anthony and Mick Pennisi each had at least 11 points each but the rest of the Barako Bull locals failed to provide backup, including Danny Seigle and Josh Urbiztondo, who were held to a combined 13 points.
The result was Petron Blaze managing to unleash one run after another, the most decisive a 15-6 surge starting off the fourth quarter that gave it an 82-66 spread which it spread to a high of 86-69, off Sims’ baseline jumper, only 2:55 left.
It was a big bounce-back by the Boosters from a 92-102 loss to Meralco just last Friday, when Sims debuted with 23 points and 16 rebounds but was completely outshined by Bolts counterpart Eric Dawson’s eight season-high 57 points.
“Our battlecry for this game was defense. Nakakahiya iyung iskoran ka ng 57 points ng kalaban and it was also the first time we gave up 100 points this conference,” related Racela.
“Our concentration was on the defensive end and to give up just 77 points to Barako Bull, a known offensive-minded team, is an accomplishment.” (NC)
The scores:
PETRON BLAZE 88 – Sims 23, Cabagnot 20, Lassiter 14, Santos 11, Fajardo 6, Lutz 6, Miranda 6, Washington 2, Sison 0, Faundo 0, Lanete 0, Pena 0.
BARAKO BULL 77 – Mbenga 14, Maliksi 13, Anthony 11, Pennisi 11, Monfort 8, Seigle 8, Urbiztondo 5, Macapagal 3, Duncil 2, Intal 2, Kramer 0.
Quarterscores: 22-17, 40-38, 67-55, 88-77
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