The league upstart unleashed a performance that wins championships, pulling the rug from under the reigning titlists as it regained the solo lead in the tournament with a 4-1 win-loss card.
Eight men did one helluva job for coach Yeng Guiao, including Jimwell Torion and Junthy Valenzuela who made a homecoming in their native province an experience to remember.
Torion and Valenzuela put up their own show to the delight of their hometown fans although it was the brave stand of Ray Tutt, Davon Harp, Ato Agustin, Chris Bolado and Mike Pennisi at crunchtime that killed the opposition.
Harp forced the overtime with a followup of Tutt’s miss at the buzzer. Tutt, Agustin, Bolado and Pennisi then took charge to finish the job for the Thunder.
Red Bull more than held its own against San Miguel in overtime, handing the Beermen their third straight loss after a victory over Bgy. Ginebra Kings in their first outing. It was SMB’s first three-game losing streak since bowing to Alaska in their All-Filipino semis playoff.
Tutt silently but effectively worked his way to 27 points, five rebounds and two assists. The seven other men fielded in by coach Yeng Guiao contributed seven points or more.
And the Thunder roared past the Beermen despite losing Pennisi to fouls with over four minutes left in overtime.
With the count tied at 88-all, the Thunder delivered the coup de grace with Tutt scoring on a drive off Lamont Strothers before Agustin followed it up with a booming three-pointer.
They stayed on equal footing with the Beermen practically throughout while dominating the boards, 47-39, and shooting well from the field. Red Bull shot 51 percent from the field.
Action returns to the Araneta Coliseum today with Mobiline eyeing its fourth straight victory at the expense of Purefoods, still reeling from two straight losses against Pop Cola and Ginebra.
The Phone Pals lost their opening assignment to Sta. Lucia Realty Oct. 4 but strung up three consecutive wins -- over San Miguel Beer, Pop Cola and Red Bull. Mobiline and Purefoods square off at 6:30 p.m.
The curtain-raiser at 4:15 p.m. pits Tanduay against Ginebra which ended a three-game skid with a 101-90 victory over the Hotdogs last Wednesday. Tanduay is tied with Purefoods at 2-2.