Tigers outlast Niños

CEBU, Philippines - The Coca-Cola Tigers were lucky enough to have a “Rock” to lean on in troubled times.

Game today

(Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex)

6 pm Mandaue-Cebu Landmasters vs. Coca-Cola Tigers

Bull-strong center Paul Asi Taulava unloaded 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter to help the roaring Tigers of PBA escaped past the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños, 83-79, in their charity game last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Proceeds of the event will be donated to the victims of tropical storm Ondoy that devastated Metro Manila and outlying Luzon provinces.

Sensing danger in the face of tenacious resistance by the gritty Niños, Taulava wisely made use of his huge frame and brute force to swallow the defense of M. Lhuillier.

At the height of the very close battle, Taulava came in to wreak havoc on the Cebuano hosts.

After Bruce Dacia scored on a 5-0 blitz to put he Niños on top for the last time, 70-69, Taulava bulldozed his way against every M. Lhuillier blocking his way to nail five straight points and give the lead back to Coca-Cola for good, 74-72.

The Niños threatened for the last time at 73-74 as Alex Cabagnot knocked in a 3-pointer and then Larry Rodriguez made back-to-back clutch hits to give the Tigers an 81-76 breather with a little over a minute left to play.

The Niños actually had several chances to send shivers down Coca-Cola’s spines but Basco, who had a nearly flawless sniping from the long-range territory, shot a measly 1-of-4 from the foul line.

Compounding their woes was the sub-par performance of Stephen Padilla from beyond the arc.

Nevertheless, the Niños could still hold their heads up high as it was their lowest losing margin in their five-game marathon against PBA squads in six-week span.

Taulava paced the Tigers with 13 points, even as four other cashed in double figures. Ricky Calimag scored 11, while Christopher Ross, Rodriguez, and Cabagno each dished out 10 markers.

Basco, who went 4-of-5 from the three-point land, paced the Niños with 21 points. Dacia was the only other double-digit scorer for the M. Lhuillier side with 12 (FREEMAN NEWS)