Gary David leads Powerade past Alaska

Powerade rode once again on the hot hands of Gary David to pull off a 79-67 win over Alaska Sunday night in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

The deadly shooting guard scored 14 of his game-high 26 points in the second half, behind a 10-of-19 shooting from the floor. The last of those points – a completed three-point play off a Tony Dela Cruz foul – clinched it for the Tigers at the final 1:12 mark with a safe 77-67 lead. Now with a 2-1 (win-loss) record, things are expected to further perk up for Powerade with the expected reactivation of top rookie pick JV Casio from the injury list. Casio, 26, has yet to make his pro debut as he sat out the first three games of the season owing to a swollen left knee. “Hopefully, I can suit up JV in Victorias City against Ginebra," said coach Bo Perasol of the possibility of Casio finally seeing action in the season’s first ever road game this Saturday. But the soft-spoken mentor is definitely satisfied where his team is right now. “I’m quite confident that given the time together, we can be better. I think we have the personnel right now," Perasol added. David got plenty of help from rookie Marcio Lassiter, who finished with 13 points, and together with David, took over in the third quarter when the Tigers finally held control of the game. They only led by the skin of their teeth at the half, 36-35. A jumper by Lassiter with 2:25 left in the period gave Powerade a 57-47 spread. The Aces then cut the lead to 69-64 with 5:14 to go on a basket courtesy of Sonny Thoss. The Tigers however, outscored the Aces in the next four minutes, 8-3, to put the game away. Jay-R Reyes had 12 points to lead Alaska, still winless in three games for a share of the cellar with Shopinas.com - OMG, GMA News The scores Powerade (79) -- David 26, Lassiter 13, Kramer 10, Adducul 7, Antonio 7, Lingganay 6, Calimag 4, Vanlandingham 3, Cruz 2, Anthony 1, Crisano 0. Alaska (67) -- Reyes 12, Baracael 11, Thoss 11, Dela Cruz 10, Bugia 8, Baguio 6, Cablay 4, Tenorio 3, Custodio 2, Salamat 0, Eman 0. Quarterscores: 28-15, 36-35, 63-55, 79-67