Pumped-up Petron smothers Shopinas

MANILA, Philippines—Petron Blaze, playing just hard enough, ripped lightweight Shopinas.com, 98-87, Sunday for the solo lead in the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Arwind Santos unloaded 16 points and grabbed 21 rebounds and Denok Miranda came off the bench to fire 18 points as the Boosters roared to their third straight win.

The Clickers, who took the lead for the first and only time at 10-9 after an RJ Jazul basket with 4:21 left in the first period, took a third straight setback.

Shopinas.com, a squad built around fading journeymen and unheralded rookies, trailed by as many as 21 points in the fourth period against a Petron side that did not play at full throttle.

Alex Cabagnot had nine points and nine assists, Joseph Yeo scattered 12 points and rookie Chris Lutz remained consistent with 17 points as the Boosters broke away for good from a 33-all tie early in the second quarter.

“We had a good start but we just relaxed,” Agustin said, referring to a 9-0 lead they blew after allowing the Clickers to score 10 straight points. “But we adjusted after halftime. I told my players that we have to work for it (victory).”

Santos has been the most terrorizing presence in the shaded lane in the league with averages of 15 points and 16 rebounds a game. Last night, he was in practically every play when the ball was being contested underneath.

“Arwind just wants to show that he can dominate,” Agustin said of Santos, who even beat the halftime buzzer with a three-pointer from way past midcourt.

Petron broke out of a tie for the lead with idle Talk ‘N Text even with superstar center Jay Washington and last year’s top rookie Rabeh Al-Hussaini continuing to sit it out.

“It just so happens that the players have adapted well to the system (of my coaching),” Agustin said. “Right now, the challenge for us is to be able to sustain the way we are playing.

“There’s still a long way to go.”

Jojo Duncil, who was a member of the Petron squad that denied Talk ‘N Text a Grand Slam in the last Governors’ Cup Finals, paced the Clickers with 22 points built around 7-of-9 shooting.

Jazul, Paolo Hubalde and Ren-Ren Ritualo all finished with 12 points each with rookie center James Sena adding 10 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.

The scores:
First Game
PETRON 98—Miranda 18, Lutz 17, Santos 16, Yeo 12, Agustin 9, Cabagnot 9, Ildefonso 6, Reyes 5, Baclao 4, Sharma 2, Guevarra 0.
SHOPINAS.COM 87—Duncil 22, Jazul 12, Hubalde 12, Ritualo 12, Sena 10, Menor 9, Espiritu 4, Se 3, Canlas 2, Canta 1, Ilad 0, Hermida 0, Mirza 0.
Quarters: 21-15, 51-39, 79-65, 98-87