PBA: Bolts zap tired Tigers, advance to Governors' Cup semis

(Updated 10:33pm) The Powerade Tigers laid it all on the line to reach this playoff game versus the Meralco Bolts, but when they got there, they had nothing left.

The Bolts had all the answers late, turning a one-point deficit at the break into a 94-86 win, Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, to complete the semifinals cast of six in the 2012 PBA Governors' Cup.

Gary David started out the game on fire for the Tigers, scoring 15 points in six minutes off the bench, making all four of his three-point attempts, to push Powerade ahead in the first quarter, 25-18.

However, come the second quarter, Meralco would recover through five straight points from Mark Cardona to put the Bolts ahead, 40-36. Still, things didn't quite wind up Meralco's way, as before the halftime buzzer, Jvee Casio hit a three-pointer to beat the shot clock and give Powerade the lead, 45-44.


Come the third quarter, Meralco decided to put Powerade's conditioning to the test, as they turned several defensive stops into break-away offensive opportunities, to grab a five point lead, 55-50. The Bolts would pad the lead even more after going on a 12-6 run to go up, 67-56, before the Tigers pounded the ball in the paint to score six straight to end the period.

Entering the fourth quarter with a nine-point lead, 69-60, the Bolts extended their advantage to as much as 13, 76-63, after a four-point play by long-range gunner Mark Macapagal, 10:10 left in the game.

Powerade however came surging back as Omar Sneed hit his side's one and only triple of the second half to make it 90-86, 1:32 left. In response, his Meralco counterpart Mario West countered with a basket to make it a six-point game, 92-86.

Sneed tried to hit his second triple in a row, but he missed, with Sol Mercado collaring the loose board. Then on the other end, a hook shot by Mark Cardona made it a three-possession game, 94-86, with 36.5 seconds left.

David tried to connect on the other end, but his miss sealed things for the Tigers, as they failed to make the post-season for the second straight conference, after a rousing run to the All-Filipino Cup Finals at the start of the season.

Meralco leaned on the energy of their veteran center Asi Taulava, and the big guy delivered to the tune of six points, 12 rebounds, four steals and three blocks, in a dominant display on the court.


"Our battlecry is 'Win for Asi.' We're making headway; we're in a step to the right direction, getting better, [becoming a] stronger basketball team," said Meralco head coach Ryan Gregorio.

Mario West added 26 points, 10 coming from the free throw line, and played tenacious defense, coming up with four swipes. Mark Cardona chipped 25 points and six assists, while Renyel Hugnatan provided 14 markers and eight boards.

Gary David, who played just a single quarter in Tuesday's win over the Barako Bull Energy, came off the bench to tally 22 points, but 15 came in the first quarter, and he finished just 6-of-20 from the field.

Import Omar Sneed led all scorers with 29 points and 15 rebounds, tops in both categories. No other Powerade Tiger finished with double-digit points.

"We Filipinos are not equipped to play back-to-back games," Gregorio observed. "We wanted to pounce on them. They were not playing fresh, we were playing fresh enough for us to wheel ourselves to victory."

Meralco's strategy was very apparent, as they produced 20 fast break points to the six of Powerade, and forced 22 Tigers turnovers, which they scored 22 points off.

The Bolts have just a day of rest to savor their victory however, as they hit the ground running on Friday, taking on the Barangay Ginebra Kings at 5:15pm at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, while the league-leading Rain or Shine Elasto Painters tangle with the defending champion Petron Blaze Boosters afterwards. - Renee Fopalan/AMD, GMA News



The scores:

Meralco 94 - West 26, Cardona 24, Hugnatan 14, Mercado 10, Reyes 6, Taulava 6, Macapagal 4, Ross 2, Artadi 2, Bulawan 0.

Powerade 86 - Sneed 29, David 22, Casio 9, Salvador 7, Anthony 6, Guevarra 4, Tugade 4, Adducul 3, Belasco 2, Martinez 0, Lingganay 0, Vanlandingham 0.

Quarter scoring: 18-25, 44-45, 69-60, 94-86