Tigers reduce Texters to tidbits

MANILA, Philippines - Powerade, blowing out cellar-dweller Shopinas.com Friday, returned to clobber front-running Talk n Text, 131-96, last night and enhance its playoff bid in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Tigers continued to play with a great deal of urgency, ending a 13-game skid in their head-on matches with the Tropang Texters.

Gary David sizzled with 27 points and the entire Powerade team sparkled with season-high 38 assists and season-best 54.4-percent clip in completely dominating the crippled Talk n Text side.

Their first back-to-back wins in the tourney had the Tigers firming up their hold of eighth spot at 5-7, now a game and a half in front of the Alaska Milk Aces.

“The guys are starting to believe in themselves; starting to believe that we can win,” said coach Bo Perasol.

The Powerade mentor, however, was quick to add it helped that Talk n Text come out undermanned.

Already without Jimmy Alapag, Ryan Reyes, Aaron Aban and Ali Peek, the Texters lost another key personnel in Jared Dillinger, who sustained injury in their last game.

Powerade pounded Talk n Text and handed the Texters their worst defeat since a 73-110 loss to Purefoods during the 1998 Commissioner’s Cup.

Despite the loss, the Texters, however, remained in the lead with an 8-2 card.

“At the half, there were comments if there’s a team capable of coming back from a big deficit, it’s Talk n Text. I told the guys, it should not go that way. We should pummel them. They did,” said Perasol.

The Tigers built a 61-35 lead at the half and hardly slowed down, keeping a commanding spread all the way to the finish.

“Pauulit ko sa kanila kung ano nakain nila kanina (I will ask them what they had for breakfast),” said Perasol, himself amazed on what the Tigers showed in this game.

Mick Pennisi and Dylan Ababou combined for six-of-10 three-point shooting and a total of 43 points as Barako Bull checked a four-game slump with a 106-102 win over Rain or Shine in the second game.

The Energy moved up to sixth place at 6-5, only a half game behind the Elasto Painters and the Meralco Bolts at 7-5.

They converted 49 of their 90 field-goal attempts for the second largest output in a game this season.

David was extra hot with an 11-of-19 shooting that went with five rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Marcio Lassiter got 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists, Sean Anthony piled up 17 points, six assists and three rebounds while Jvee Casio, Doug Kramer and Rommel Adducul combined for 37 points, 18 rebounds and 12 assists.

NOTES: Former Sen. Robert Jaworski graced last night’s games, leading a prayer for his departed former teammate Alberto “Big Boy” Reynoso......The PBA will hold a rare twinbill tomorrow at the Big Dome, pitting Petron and Alaska at 5:15 p.m. then B-Meg against Talk n Text at 7:30 p.m.

The scores:

First Game

Powerade 131 – David 27, Lassiter 19, Anthony 17, Casio 14, Kramer 13, Adducul 10, Cruz 9, Crisano 7, Vanlandingham 6, Antonio 4, Martinez 3, Lingganay 2, Allera 0.

Talk N’ Text 96 – Williams 18, Castro 15, Carey 15, Oreta 14, Fonacier 12, Aguilar 9, Weinstein 7, Gamalinda 6, Raymundo 0, Membrere 0, Alvarez 0, De Ocampo 0, Lao 0.

Quarterscores: 27-18, 61-35, 95-70, 131-96

Second Game

Barako 106 – Pennisi 22, Ababou 21, Miller 16, Seigle 14, Allado 11, Salvacion 6, Arboleda 5, Peña 5, Gatumbato 3, Aquino 2, Artadi 1. 

Rain Or Shine 102 – Lee 24, Chan 21, Quinahan 14, Rodriguez 12, Matias 10, Belga 6, Arana 6, Tang 4, Norwood 3, Cruz 2, Buenafe 0, Ibanes 0.

Quarters: 25-24, 49-48, 77-71, 106-102