Mahindra, TNT remain tied for lead

KELLY Williams of TNT KaTropa (right) scores on a layup against NLEX import Henry Walker. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

RANGED against a powerhouse for the second straight game, Mahindra turned in some blue-collar effort in the second half and continued to do what it has been very successful at in the PBA Governors’ Cup: slaying a giant.

With James White coming up with his usual numbers and Keith Agovida finally breaking out, the Enforcers closed out with a 13-2 run to drub Alaska, 101-95, and extend their franchise-best start to 4-0 to keep their share of the elimination round lead at Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

White scored seven and Agovida four of those Mahindra points and the Enforcers’ defense forced the veteran Alaska five on the floor to commit some silly errors and take a lot of bad shots that eventually doomed the Aces to their second straight loss in a 1-3 card.

“Our guys were just purely resilient tonight,” said Mahindra rookie coach Chris Gavina, whose team dug out of a 16-point first half hole using plain hard work in the final two quarters to keep in step with TNT KaTropa. “They just persevered.”

The Texters also came from behind to pip NLEX via the same score in the curtain raiser.

White finished with 32 points—shooting a total of 14 in the fourth—after going 13-for-15 from the field. He also had 15 rebounds, while Agovida, who once scored 82 points in a high school game for Jose Rizal, finished with a career-high 11 in just 15 minutes.

Mahindra pounded out the win even with starting point guard LA Revilla out of the lineup because of a broken nose. In his place, management activated playing-coach Manny Pacquiao, who played the final 2:59 of the first quarter and failed to contribute anything.

The scores:

First Game

TNT KATROPA 101—Castro 23, Rosario 20, Little 18, Madanly 10, Rosales 8, Williams 7, De Ocampo 6, Reyes R. 5, Seigle 2, Tautuaa 2, Nuyles 0, Carey 0.
NLEX 95—Walker 26, Taulava 14, Anthony 12, Villanueva J. 12, Baracael 10, Khobuntin 9, Akl 7, Arboleda 3, Villanueva E. 2, Lanete 0, Monfort 0, Reyes 0.
Quarters: 18-21, 44-48, 65-71, 101-95

Second Game

MAHINDRA 101—White 32, Ramos 14, Canaleta 13, Agovida 11, Zandi 9, Digregorio 7, Taha 5, Elorde 4, Bagatsing 3, Aguilar 2, Yee 1, Ballesteros 0, Guinto 0, Pacquiao 0, Pinto 0, Jaime 0.
ALASKA 95—Henton 33, Abueva 21, Banchero 8, Exciminiano 8, Jazul 6, Thoss 6, Dela Cruz 4, Menk 3, Casio 2, Dela Rosa 2, Hontiveros 2, Baclao 0, Magat 0, Manuel 0, Racal 0.
Quarters: 23-31, 39-54, 65-74, 101-95