MANILA, Philippines–Behind a balanced attack, Petron Blaze pulled away in the second half to trounce Barako Bull, 95-83, and notched its second win in a row Friday in the 37th PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Alex Cabagnot unleashed 18 of his 22 points from downtown including three straight triples as part of the Boosters’ 18-4 run that hiked the lead to 19, 93-74, with only 3:17 left.
Fourth overall pick Chris Lutz proved his debut game was no fluke as he scattered 17 points, seven assists and six steals.
The former Smart Gilas Pilipinas standout had 19 points in Petron’s 73-69 triumph over B-Meg last Wednesday.
Petron, the 2011 PBA Governors’ Cup champion, squandered a 10-point halftime buffer as the Boosters allowed the Energy to take the lead, 56-54, on a coast to coast by Paul Artadi midway through the third period.
Petron though, quickly struck back to regain control led by Lutz’s all-around play and timely hits by big man Carlo Sharma as main man Arwind Santos, who was hobbled by foul troubles in the third, sat on the bench.
Despite the troubles, Santos still managed to come through with a double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds.
Sharma sank his first seven shots en route to a 15-point night.
Newly-acquired Willie Miller, who is expected to be Barako Bull’s focal point in scoring, was a non-factor with eight points.
Dylan Ababou, the 10th overall pick and former UAAP MVP with University of Santo Tomas, was benched the whole game.
Mick Pennisi paced Barako with 16 points while the Energy’s other rookie Allein Maliksi added 15.
Maliksi, the No. 8 pick, also played for the UST Growling Tigers in his college days and was the inaugural PBA D-League MVP.