PBA Scores, News and Updates

[Zurca]

Belga endgame heroics fuel Rain or Shine past Talk `N Text (01/11/14)

BEAU Belga drained the go-ahead baseline jumper, then grabbed a crucial end game rebound preserve Rain or Shine’s 90-88 win over three-time champion Talk ‘N Text in the main game of the PLDT myDSL-PBA Philippine Cup on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Belga bravely battled the bigger Talk ‘N Text defenders, and combined well with heavyweight `Extra Rice' frontline partner JR Quinahan as they teamed-up to help the Elasto Painters quell a furious fourth quarter rally by the Tropang Texters to chalk up their fifth straight win.

Talk ‘N Text had one last chance to snatch the win away outright, but Ranidel de Ocampo missed a desperation three-point attempt, after which Belga came down with the defensive rebound to seal the outcome of the match.

Rain or Shine moved up to a tie for second place with idle Petron as the race for the no. 2 slot continues to be a tight affair between the two teams.

“We just rode on our energy. We tried to stay aggressive all the way to the endgame and I think we did a pretty good job defensively against their guards, Jimmy  (Alapag) and Jason (Castro),” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

The loss officially bundled Talk ‘N Text out of the running for the no. 2 slot that offers a twice-to-beat incentive heading into the quarterfinals.

The Tropang Texters dropped to 7-5 with two games left on their schedule.

Rain or Shine matched up well against Talk ‘N Text, the same team that swept the Elasto Painters in last year’s Philippine Cup Finals, 4-0.

“We were able to carve out the win, but the good thing is we’re beating the tough teams in endgame situations,” said Guiao, referring to Rain or Shine’s victories over Petron, San Mig Super Coffee, and now, Talk ‘N Text.

“It shows mental toughness and the will to win. I think it’s looking pretty good.”

De Ocampo led the Tropang Texters with 24 points and 13 rebounds, while Danny Seigle added 18.

Jason Castro chipped in 17, but had a poor shooting night after finishing with just 4-of-13 shooting overall in the game.

The scores:

RAIN OR SHINE (90) -- Quinahan 19, Belga 16, Nuyles 13, Lee 8, Chan 7, Cruz 6, Tiu 5, Arana 4, Rodriguez 4, Norwood 4, Tang 2, Ibanes 2, Almazan 0.

TALK N' TEXT (88) -- De Ocampo 24, Seigle 18, Castro 17, Alapag 9, Fonacier 8, Aban 4, Anthony 3, Reyes 3, Baclao 2, Peek 0, Ferriols 0, Poligrates 0, Carey 0.

Quarterscores: 24-18; 45-46; 71-70; 90-88.

From SPIN.ph

[Zurca]

GlobalPort finds an unlikely hero in Nabong to nip Alaska in overtime thriller (01/12/14)

KELLY Nabong capped his game-long heroics by nailing two pressure-packed free throws to lead GlobalPort to a thrilling 91-88 overtime win over Alaska that kept its playoff hopes alive in the PLDT myDSL-PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The sophomore backup center scored 13 points to go with 10 rebounds and three assists as he stepped up in the absence of star forward Jay Washington, who is out for the conference due to a partial tear in the plantar fascia in his right foot.

Nabong was also big in the endgame, hitting the barreling drive down the lane that sent the game into an extra period before hitting the two free throws that gave the Batang Pier a three-point lead, 91-88, with 2.4 seconds remaining.

“Kelly has been playing well. Eh magkapuwesto lang kasi sila ni Jay Wash. But it was great that he was able to step up," said GlobalPort interim coach Ritchie Ticzon. "He’s really good and his passion for the game is something.”

Sol Mercado added 11 points and made the crucial interception of the final Alaska inbound that deprived the Aces a shot at a game-tying three-pointer.

By ending a five-game losing streak and improving to 5-8 (win-loss), GlobalPort clinched at least a playoff for the eighth and last berth in the quarterfinals while sending Alaska to the brink of elimination.

The Aces, now 4-9, must beat Barako Bull in their final elimination-round game and hope that GlobalPort loses its last match against Barangay Ginebra just to gain a playoff for a quarterfinal spot.

The Aces missed the services of last season’s Rookie of the Year Calvin Abueva, who sat out due to a sprained ankle two days after getting involved in a controversial scuffle with Meralco's Jared Dillinger.

Rookie Terrence Romeo bounced back from a subpar four-point output against Petron to lead Globalport with 18 points while Eric Menk added 10 and Jaypee Belencion nine.

Jvee Casio and Sonny Thoss led the Aces with 21 points apiece. But Thoss was held scoreless by Nabong in overtime.

The scores:

GLOBALPORT 91 - Romeo 18, Nabong 13, Mercado 11, Menk 10, Belencion 9, Salvador 8, Salva 7, Najorda 6, Garcia 5, Hayes 4, Revilla 0, Chua 0.

ALASKA 88 - Casio 21, Thoss 21, Baguio 20, Espinas 14, Dela Cruz 7, Buenafe 3, Eman 2, Laure 0, Jazul 0, Hontiveros 0, Ramos 0, Exciminiano.

Quarterscores: 15-19, 34-31, 68-55, 82-82, 91-88

From SPIN.ph

[Zurca]

Ginebra survives scare against zone-playing Barako Bull to stay in top spot (01/12/14)

BARANGAY Ginebra relied on a flurry of three-pointers in the final period to finish off a tough Barako Bull side, 90-83 and strengthen its grip of the top spot in the PLDT myDSL-PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Gin Kings outscored the Energy, 30-15 in the payoff quarter when their outside snipers finally found their range against the zone defense of Barako Bull that made it tough for Twin Towers Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar to impose their will inside.

“We’re lucky na yung nag-sona sila, we were able to hit our shots sa three-points saka mas naging aggressive kami sa defense,” said Ginebra coach Ato Agustin after the win that atoned for a shock 79-83 defeat to sister team San Mig exactly a week ago.

The Gin Kings, who converted 13 three-point shots in the game, hiked their record to 10-2 (win-loss), moving within a win of clinching the top spot and a twice-to-beat incentive heading into the playoffs.

Slaughter won Player of the Game honors by scoring 14 points to go with 15 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and two steals in a game that saw Ginebra lose the battle off both boards against the shorter Barako frontline, 53-56, and trail by eight points in the second half.

Not until Aguilar broke loose on a fastbreak and completed an alley-oop basket off a perfect feed by Chris Ellis did Ginebra finally breathe easy, 86-80, time down to 37 seconds.

Barako Bull, which pulled off a miracle 92-88 win over fancied Petron last Wednesday, dropped to 5-8 in a tie with Globalport with a game left on its schedule.

Mark Caguioa also scored 14 points while Aguilar finished with 13 and 10 boards for the league-leading Ginebra quintet, which stayed a full game ahead of Petron and Rain or Shine with two games left to play in the elims.

Dennis Miranda paced the Energy with 16 points, six rebounds and seven assists, while JC Intal, one of eight former Ginebra players now playing for Barako Bull, added 15 and eight boards.

The scores:
 
GINEBRA 90 - Slaughter 14, Caguioa 14, Aguilar 13, Ellis 11, Tenorio 11, Baracael 9, Helterbrand 6, Monfort 6, Reyes 3, Urbiztondo 3, Ababou 0, Mamaril 0, Forrester 0.
 
BARAKO 83 - Miranda 16, Intal 15, Pennisi 15, Macapagal 14, Maierhofer 10, Jensen 9, Isip 2, Pena 2, Lastimosa 0, Wilson 0, Miller 0, Buenafe 0.
 
Quarterscores: 21-12, 43-38, 60-68, 90-83

From SPIN.ph

[Lord Nok Von Hauten]

Ayos buti na lang nanalo ang ginebra.

Sent from my Lenovo A3000-H using Tapatalk

[lurklurk]

Top 2 team ngayon pag kumpleto line up Ginebra saka Petron talaga.

Magaling Ginebra mag adjust saka mataas ang potensyal, madami pang pwede iimprove which is understandable kasi ngayon pa lang sila nabuo saka ngayon pa lang talaga na-define yung roles ng bawat isang player. Everygame may bago ang Ginebra, bagong set saka bagong counter sa defensive adjustments ng kalaban. Versatile kasi line up nila pwede big, pwede small, pwede fastbreak pwede din half-court style.

Petron naman ang malupit talaga ang depensa. Parang miami heat depensa nila pag focus talaga. Mabibilis mag-rotate yung wing defenders nila: lassiter, lutz, arwind, cabagnot, ross, tubid. Kaya nila iintercept mga pasa, kaya dapat sobrang maingat yung opensa ng kalaban which is nakakasira ng momentum. Tapos merong Fajardo sa gitna na pinaka magaling na defensive anchor sa PBA. Lateral speed meron, post defense meron, help and weakside defense meron. Hindi masyado na-appreciate pero malupet na defensive player to si Fajardo parang Duncan.

Ang kulang lang sa petron na talagang magpapalakas pa sa kanila is stretch 4. Bagay sa kanila stretch 4 na may depensa, kayang bumantay sa poste saka one on one. Meron silang big na shooter, yung si Deutchman kaso inconsistent pa pero okay sana kung madevelop. Mahirap pag si arwind ang 4 sa depensa, undersized talaga although pumapalag din. Mas maganda gawing defensive stopper si arwind sa mga perimeter players dun lumalabas galing ni arwind sa depensa. Kelangan naman may tira sa labas tong 4 na to kase masikip na sa loob tong si arwind saka si Junmar since walang tira sa labas si arwind. Ayos lang kase malakas sa offensive rebound saka sa putback si Arwind kaya tama lang.

Sana magtapat na to ng kumpleto line up para magkaalaman na. 

[kingjames24szupladoh]

PBA 2013-2014 Philippine Cup Assists Per Game Leaders :

[Zurca]

Abueva, Dillinger, David penalized for fracas; Alaska star also fined for 'flopping'

CALVIN Abueva of Alaska and the Meralco pair of Jared Dillinger and Gary David were hit with fines totalling P28,000 by the PBA Commissioner's Office but spared suspensions in light of the scuffle that marred the two teams' game on Friday night.

PBA commissioner Chito Salud hit Abueva and Dillinger with P10,000 fines each for figuring in a fracas after a bruising collision that saw them crash over the baseline railing in the fourth quarter of the Bolts' 74-65 win over the Aces in the Philippine Cup elims.

However, the enigmatic Abueva was fined another P3,000 for violation of the league's anti-flopping rules as Salud pointed to his 'proclivity to exaggerate fouls and other forms of physical contact' made against him during games.

Salud warned the fines for flopping will rise to P5,000 for a second violation by Abueva and escalate further in succeeding violations.

On the other hand, David was fined P5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct after a video review showed him taking a fighting stance that Salud said "could have exacerbated incident."

Salud met with the three players separately on Tuesday after a review of the incident with his technical team.

Dillinger's technical foul for taunting was upgraded to a flagrant/ unsportsmanlike foul, with Salud pointing out that "his act of physically restraining Calvin Abueva by grappling him by the neck, along with the taunting and trash-talking, is clearly unnecessary."

The technical slapped on Abueva by referees for second motion during the game was upgraded to flagrant/ unsportsmanlike foul for what blows he landed on Dillinger which Salud said caused the player's "face to bleed and bruise."

"I again remind our players and teams that the highest tenets of sportsmanship should never be secondary to their passion for the game," Salud said.

From SPIN.ph

[Zurca]

San Mig mauls sluggish sister team Petron to book place in PBA playoffs (01/15//14)

SAN Mig Super Coffee played with lot of fire in the belly as it clobbered sister team Petron Blaze, 112-93 to barge into the quarterfinals of the PLDT myDSL-PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Mark Barroca led the way as the Mixers booked their third straight victory to move up to 6-7 (win-loss), good for fifth spot with a game left on their elimination round schedule.

San Mig faces three-time defending champion Talk ‘N Text (7-5) on Friday, with a win giving the Mixers a chance to finish as high as No. 4 should the Tropang Texters drop their final game in the eliminations against league leader Barangay Ginebra on Sunday.

On the other hand, the loss dealt a big blow to Petron’s bid for a top-two finish and a twice-to-beat edge in the playoffs after dropping to 9-4 overall, one game behind second-running Rain or Shine (10-3).

The Elasto Painters won earlier in the day, 89-86 against Meralco behind JR Quinahan’s buzzer-beating triple.

“As I told (Petron coach) Gee (Abanilla) after the game, it was just our night tonight,” said San Mig coach Tim Cone. “We were shooting the ball well, moving the ball well, while they (Boosters) were missing their shots."

"So it was just one of those nights everything came together for us,” he added.

PJ Simon led the way with 20 points while Barroca and James Yap added 19 apiece for the Mixers, who sustained their offensive resurgence by making 57.3 percent of their shots.

Marco Lassiter led Petron with 20 points, but it took him 21 attempts to do it. Chris Lutz added 18, while reigning MVP Arwind Santos chipped in 12 points and 12 rebounds.

June Mar Fajardo played his second game since spraining his MCL on his right knee, finishing with a quiet 11 points and 12 rebounds.

The scores:

SAN MIG 112 - Simon 20, Barroca 19, Yap 19, Sangalang 13, Devance 12, Pingris 12, Mallari 7, Reavis 4, De Ocampo 2, Gaco 2, Melton 2, Cawaling 0.

PETRON 93 - Lassiter 20, Lutz 18, Santos 12, Fajardo 11, Cabagnot 9, Kramer 8, Tubid 4, Ross 4, Marata 3, Duncil 2, Deutchman 2, Taha 0, Lanete 0, Hubalde 0.

Quarterscores: 25-12, 50-35, 79-62, 112-93

From SPIN.ph

[Zurca]

Quinahan's buzzer-beating trey puts to naught David's late heroics for Meralco (01/15/14)

JR Quinahan drained a cold-blooded three-point shot with seven-tenths of a second to go to carry Rain or Shine to an 89-86 victory over Meralco and keep its hopes for a top-two finish alive in the PLDT myDSL-PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The 6-5 Quinahan, who missed his first three tries from beyond the arc, made his last attempt from beyond the arc under the most difficult circumstances, catching the inbounds pass from Gabe Norwood then making a quick release triple with Gary David on his face.

A video review later confirmed that Quinahan's trey came just in the nick of time, sealing Rain or Shine’s sixth straight win that moved the Painters to solo second place - half a game ahead of Petron in their race for a twice-to-beat advantage in the playoffs.

The shot also put to naught the late-game heroics of Meralco's Gary David, who scored five points in the final 20 seconds including a 25-foot three-pointer that knotted the count at 86-all with 8.6 seconds remaining.

Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao mapped out a play that had Paul Lee attempting a three-pointer from deep the corner, which went awry. Meralco guard John Wilson caught the loose ball but lost it quickly from the sidelines with less than a second left, setting up Quinahan for the endgame heroics.

“It’s tough playing Meralco because the first time we played them, it also boiled down to the endgame,” said a relieved Guiao after the game. “Again, we’re lucky, we’re riding a streak of good luck.”

It was a sorry loss for the Bolts, who fought the E-Painters in a close game marked by 13 deadlocks and 10 lead changes behind the hot hands of David.

The loss dropped Meralco to 5-8 in a share of sixth to eighth spots with idle Barako Bull and  Globalport with one game left in its schedule against Petron Blaze on Saturday.

A win by Meralco this weekend formalizes the team’s entry into the quarterfinals.

Jeff Chan led Rain or Shine with 16 points, while Paul Lee and Norwood added 14 and 10 apiece.

Quinahan, who scored 16 markers in the team’s 90-88 win over Talk ‘N Text last weekend, finished with just five points, but added five boards, two assists, two steals and two blocks.

David led the Bolts with 25 points, marking the third straight game the two-time scoring champion has scored 20 or more points.

The scores:

RAIN OR SHINE 89 - Chan 16, Lee 14, Norwood 10, Cruz 8, Belga 7, Almazan 7, Ibanes 7, Rodriguez 6, Quinahan 5, Nuyles 4, Teng 3, Tiu 2, Arana 0, Tang 0.

MERALCO 86 - David 25, Wilson 12, Hugnatan 11, Dillinger 11, Salvacion 8, Artadi 6, Al-Hussaini 5, Ildefonso 4, Hodge 4, Guevarra 0.

Quarterscores: 23-21, 45-45, 70-64, 89-86

From SPIN.ph

[Zurca]

After launch of sports channel, ABS-CBN official says PBA games an 'enticing content'

GIANT network ABS-CBN has expressed interest in obtaining the broadcast rights of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) - but only if an opportunity arises.

Speaking during the launch of ABS-CBN Sports+Action, a new sports channel on free television replacing Studio 23, ABS-CBN Integrated Sports head Dino Laurena said the network doesn’t have concrete plans at the moment to bid for the TV rights of the pro league.

Laurena however, said the network will bid for the PBA broadcast if there will be an opportunity to do so, pointing out that TV5 still has a live contract with the league.

“Our position remains that we are not closing our door to any particular sports partner,” said Laurena when the reformatted channel Studio 23 was re-launched on Thursday in Makati City.

“Currently, nire-respeto namin ‘yung mga kontrata for live sports events,” said Laurena.

The launching of the new sports network sparked calls from basketball fans for ABS-CBN to obtain the television rights to Asia’s first ever professional league amid criticism of the PBA's current coverage by TV5 and its sister channel on the UHF band, Aksyon TV 41.

A poll by Spin.ph showed 33.54 percent of 2,711 respondents want the PBA to be moved to the giant network or its sister channel on the UHF band. GMA/GMA NewsTV came in second at 32.80 percent, followed by IBC 13 (27.64 percent), TV5/Aksyon TV 41 (3.80%), and PTV 4 (2.14 percent).

Even though the PBA is currently on a rival network, Laurena said ABS-CBN still believes the pro league remains a very marketable product.

“We can’t deny the history of the PBA. It’s the only other successful professional basketball league in the world next to the NBA. We don’t take that away from the PBA,” said Laurena.

“It is an enticing content. But like I said, nasa tamang panahon lahat,” he added.

ABS-CBN Sports+Action Channel 23 will be replacing the old Studio 23 starting on Saturday, with 70 percent of its content and programs to be about sports.

ABS-CBN has made several bids for the television rights of the PBA in the past, but failed to get the nod of the league's board of governors.

A broadcast partnership with the PBA's former carrying arm Solar Sports that had the games being shown on Studio 23 on the UHF band also proved shortlived.

From SPIN.ph

[kingjames24szupladoh]

The Scores :


GINEBRA 108 - Slaughter 23, Aguilar 21,
Baracael 18, Ellis 11, Caguioa 11, Tenorio 10, Reyes 8, Helterbrand 2, Monfort 2,
Mamaril 2, Ababou 0, Urbiztondo 0.

GLOBALPORT 92 - Mercado 20, Menk 17,
Ponferrada 16, Romeo 13, Garcia 9, Nabong 7, Hayes 6, Chua 2, Salva 2, Belencion 0, Najorda 0, Salvador 0.

Quarters: 28-20, 58-49, 80-73, 108-92

[Zurca]

Twin Towers too much to handle for GlobalPort as Ginebra secures top seeding (01/17/14)

ROOKIE big man Greg Slaughter overwhelmed Globalport’s foul-plagued frontline with jump hooks, putbacks and easy layups to carry Barangay Ginebra to a 108-92 victory and the No. 1 seeding in the quarterfinals of the PLDT myDSL-PBA Philippine Cup match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Slowed down by three fouls during the first half, the 6-11 top rookie pick of this year's draft took over in the second half and proved too much to handle for a short-handed Batang Pier side that simply couldn’t find any answer defensively.

The slotman out of Ateneo scattered 16 of his PBA career-high 23 points in the second half on top of 13 rebounds as he effectively covered for frontcourt partner Japeth Aguilar, who spent more time on the bench in the second half due to foul trouble.

Still, the 6-9 Aguilar still finished with a flourish to end the game with 21 points.

“Now, I can say we’re No. 1 no matter ano mangyari sa Sunday,” said Ginebra coach Ato Agustin after his team hiked its record to a league-best 11-2 win-loss card with one game left to play on Sunday against defending champion Talk ‘N Text.

“Sa game na ito, we were ready. We were able to push the ball and maganda ang transition namin saka rebounding namin,” he added.

Ginebra’s win denied Globalport an outright entry into the quarterfinals. The Batang Pier, who dropped to 5-9, will now have to wait for the result of the Sunday match between Barako Bull and Alaska to know their fate in the playoffs.

The 6’9” Aguilar scored on a twisting layup and a wide-open jumper late in the game to put the finishing touches to the win for Ginebra, which earlier saw its 17-point lead go down to five points early in the final period.

Globalport drew 20 points from Sol Mercado while veteran big man and former Gin King Eric Menk fired his second straight double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds while logging 27 minutes in place of the injured Jay Washington (partial tear on his plantar fascia).

Sophomore forward Jewel Ponferrada added 16 and eight boards for the Batang Pier in a game slowed down by too many fouls, with Globalport getting whistled for 36 and Ginebra 28.

The scores:

GINEBRA 108 - Slaughter 23, Aguilar 21, Baracael 18, Ellis 11, Caguioa 11, Tenorio 10, Reyes 8, Helterbrand 2, Monfort 2, Mamaril 2, Ababou 0, Urbiztondo 0.

GLOBALPORT 92 - Mercado 20, Menk 17, Ponferrada 16, Romeo 13, Garcia 9, Nabong 7, Hayes 6, Chua 2, Salva 2, Belencion 0, Najorda 0, Salvador 0.

Quarters: 28-20, 58-49, 80-73, 108-92

From SPIN.ph

[Zurca]

Spitfire Barroca in high gear as San Mig ends elims with fourth successive win (01/17/14)

MARK Barroca came up big once more in the final period, sparking San Mig Super Coffee’s blazing run on the way to a 100-87 spanking of three-time champion Talk ‘N Text in the PLDT myDSL-PBA Philippine Cup eliminations on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The spitfire out of Far Eastern University put on a show in the final quarter, tossing 12 of 16 points while pulling two of his three steals to help the Mixers turn the tables on the sputtering Tropang Texters and end the eliminations with a fourth successive win.

“Our goal when we started 1-5 was to try and get back to .500. And  I didn’t think we could do it and I never thought we’d finish the eliminations at 7-7,” said San Mig coach Tim Cone.

“To me, that’s (four straight wins) a nice accomplishment by these guys. It had to be a real tough finish with the teams we played the last four games,” he added, referring to Barangay Ginebra, Air21, Petron and Talk ‘N Text, which San Mig defeated in succession.

While the game became immaterial to the quarterfinal pairings following Globalport’s 92-108 loss to league-leader Barangay Ginebra, Cone is bracing for a tougher quarterfinal picture since the Mixers will be facing the Tropang Texters in a best-of-three affair, beginning next Tuesday.

Talk ‘N Text, which absorbed its third straight defeat, fell to 7-6, but still remained in fourth spot. The Texters play the Gin Kings at the close of the eliminations on Sunday.

PJ Simon scored 18 of his team-high 19 points to lead the Mixers, while Joe Devance and Rafi Reavis added 14 and 12 markers, respectively.

Jason Castro paced the injury-plagued Texters with 21 points, but was held to just four in the final half.

Talk ‘N Text coach Norman Black elected to rest injured players Kelly Williams (foot), Noy Baclao and Ryan Reyes, but assured that all three will be back in time for the playoffs.

The scores:

San Mig 100 - Simon 19, Barroca 16, Devance 14, Reavis 12, Yap 10, Pingris 9, Sangalang 6, Mallari 5, Melton 5, De Ocampo 4.

Talk 'N Text 87 - Castro 21, De Ocampo 14, Fonacier 12, Alapag 12, Peek 11, Seigle 10, Anthony 3, Reyes Rob 2, Aban 2, Reyes J. 0.

Quarterscores: 26-21, 52-44, 75-68, 100-87

From SPIN.ph

[tonistork]

sana tuloy tuloy na ang Gin Kings hanggang finals.

masakit lang sa mata panoorin si 'crocs' (#47), sobrang bwaya pa din. kainis silang panoorin ni romeo, labanan ng mga bwaya.

[Zurca]

Petron rides Fajardo double-double to deal Meralco's playoff hopes a big blow (01/18/14)

PETRON pounced on Meralco’s turnovers to score a 96-87 victory, dealing a major blow to the Bolts’ playoff hopes in the PLDT myDSL-PBA Philippine Cup on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Boosters rode on the broad shoulders of man-mountain June Mar Fajardo’s dominant play to close out the eliminations with a 10-4 (win-loss) record after a game that saw the Cebuano center face former mentor Danny Ildefonso for the first time in a PBA game.

Though embarrassed during the second period by Ildefonso, who scored off a baseline spin followed by a jumper in his face, Fajardo came back with vengeance in the final half, wreaking havoc in the paint.

The vastly improved big man registered his 10th double-double of the conference with 19 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Boosters, who also got splendid performances from reigning league MVP Arwind Santos and former Meralco guard Chris Ross.

Ross scored all but one of his 18 points in the final half while Santos added 17 and five boards to help Petron seize control in the second period onwards.

“It’s a big win for us against Meralco,” said Petron coach Gee Abanilla, whose team was coming off a 93-112 shellacking at the hands of San Mig Super Coffee on Wednesday. “It’s a good way to bounce back after a loss, coming into the quarterfinals, we want to have some sort of momentum.”

Ildefonso, playing for the first time against a Petron team where he was one of the pillars for 15 years, also did well as he finished just two rebounds shy of a double-double with his 17 points and eight rebounds. He also had five assists and five shotblocks.

Petron missed the services of gunner Marcio Lassiter, who left a few days ago for the US after his grandmother passed away. The former Smart Gilas shooter will be back in time for the playoffs.

For the moment, the win kept Petron’s top-two hopes alive, depending on the result of the Rain or Shine-Air21 match, which is still being played as of posting time.

A win by Air21, which is already out of playoff contention, will push Rain or Shine to a playoff with Petron to determine the No. 2 seed in the quarterfinals beginning on Monday.

On the other hand, Meralco closed out the two-round elims with a 5-9 win-loss record, in a tie with Globalport.

However, Meralco’s hopes for a quarterfinal appearance hinges on a Barako Bull victory over Alaska on Sunday. A win by the Energy will gift the Bolts the No. 8 seed, giving them the right to face top-seeded Barangay Ginebra in the quarterfinals.

The scores:

Petron 96 - Fajardo 19, Ross 18, Santos 17, Cabagnot 14, Lutz 12, Kramer 6, Duncil 4, Tubid 2, Taha 2, Lanete 2
 
Meralco 87 - David 18, Ildefonso 17, Dillinger 16, Wilson 13, Hodge 13, Allado 5, Hugnatan 3, Artadi 2, Timberlake 0, Salvacion 0, Al Hussaini 0.
 
Quarterscores: 15-15, 44-33, 70-56, 96-87

From SPIN.ph