Reyes heroics power Henkel over Magnolia

Fil-Am Ryan Reyes dished out another gem of a game yesterday, firing 20 points and powering Henkel-Sista to a come-from-behind 67-61 victory over San Miguel-Magnolia for its third straight victory in the PBL Unity Cup at the Arena in San Juan.

Reyes, who debuted for the team with 18 points in steering the Super Sealers over the same team, 71-62, at the close of the first round elims last Saturday, also had five assists and the same number of steals while pulling down four rebounds as Henkel-Sista remained unbeaten after dropping its first four games.

In the other game, Cebuana Lhuillier downed Dazz ‘Sang Patak, 72-65, to notch its fifth win in seven matches for solo second place behind pacesetting Harbour Centre, which totes a 5-1 (win-loss) record.

It was the Sink Whiteners’ sixth defeat against a win.

"This one’s for our boss," said CL coach Luigi Trillo referring to team owner Jean Henri Lhuillier, who is leaving for Harvard today for a three-week study.

"He’s heaven-sent," said Garcia referring to his 23-year-old 6-foot-1 prized recruit, a former high school teammate of reigning NBA three-point shooting champion Jason Kapono of the Miami Heat at Artesia in Los Angeles, California from 1999-2000.

"He’s the future of Philippine basketball, he can shoot, drive, pass, defend and he has no weakness," said PBL chief Chino Trinidad. "He should be in the national team right now."

Reyes teamed up with Eder Saldua in a big third quarter run that saw the Super Sealers turn a 22-34 halftime deficit into a 50-44 lead going into the final period.

He then came through with a nine-point splurge in the last period to take the starch out of the Beverage Masters, who fell to their second straight setback and fifth overall against two wins.

"I just want to be a leader of this team," said Reyes, who speaks fluent Filipino.