'Iceman' son helps Coke melt Magnolia
By Musong R. Castillo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:43:00 05/09/2008
GAME SATURDAY (Calape gym, Bohol)
4:30 p.m.--Purefoods vs Alaska
GAMES SUNDAY (Araneta Coliseum)
4:30 p.m.--Sta. Lucia vs Air21
6:50 p.m.--Barangay Ginebra vs Talk 'N Text
MANILA, Philippines--Magnolia focused so much on stopping big Jason Dixon that it forgot all about tiny George Gervin Jr.
The Beverage Masters paid dearly for that mistake.
Gervin scored 10 of his PBA career-high 35 points in the fourth quarter to key a Coca-Cola breakaway as the Tigers grabbed a piece of the lead with a 106-92 trashing of Magnolia in the Smart PBA Fiesta Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Gervin torched Magnolia with six triples as the Tigers scooted away from a 75-71 game at the end of the third to 100-80 with 3:10 left for a 6-2 card that tied them with idle Red Bull.
The loss was the fourth in eight outings for the Beverage Masters, who clamped down so hard on Dixon, who was held to a PBA-low seven points in 39 minutes.
In the second game, Rob Wainwright fired 14 of his 29 points in the fourth to lead Welcoat to an upset 116-108 decision of Talk 'N Text.
Meanwhile, Alaska coach Tim Cone expressed disappointment Friday that Sta. Lucia's Wesley Wilson escaped suspension.
"I find the ruling on Wilson totally unfair," Cone said. "Wilson's foul was done with extreme malice and was premeditated with intent to hurt."
Alaska import Randy Holcomb, was recently suspended and fined by Barrios because of a hard foul on Red Bull's Rich Alvarez.
Though that foul left Alvarez bloodied, Cone is resenting the decision because that action happened while the ball was in play and that Wilson's shot on Red Bull's Adam Parada happened during a lull.
Air21 took the matter to Barrios through board representative Lito Alvarez, and also asked for a reconsideration of his decision.
Alaska faces Purefoods Saturday with the Giants replacing the prolific Darius Rice with Reda Rhalimi, a 7-foot-1 Moroccan who is supposed to be a better all-around player.
The scores:
First Game
COCA-COLA 106--Gervin 35, Taulava 21, Buenafe 13, Belasco 9, Cabagnot 8, Dixon 7, Telan 7, Macapagal 6, Catli 0, Dimaunahan 0.
MAGNOLIA 92--Tugade 23, Watkins 14, Cortez 14, Hontiveros 11, Pingris 7, Calaguio 6, Eman 4, Racela 4, Villanueva 3, Gonzales 3, Tolomia 3, PeŇa 0.
Quarters: 22-26, 50-51, 75-71, 106-92
Second Game
WELCOAT 116--Wainwright 24, Gainous 23, Santee 15, Reyes 15, Arana 13, Devance 11, Mente 10, Ibanez 3, Isip 2, Dulay 0, Baguion 0.
TALK 'N TEXT 108--Alapag 24, McGhee 22, Cardona 19, Washington 14, Ritualo 11, De Ocampo 8, Allado 6, Carey 2, Peek 2, Chia 0, Lao 0.
Quarters: 18-28, 55-60, 81-82, 116-108
|
