Photo by August dela Cruz
MANILA, Philippines—Gary David caught fire in the second half last night and almost singlehandedly carried Powerade to a pulsating 131-123 overtime victory over B-Meg and an unexpected Final Four seat in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The superstar Tiger hit 16 straight points in a four-minute span bridging the fourth period and extension as Powerade became just the third No. 1 seed to upset a top-ranked foe. The Tigers arranged a semifinal clash with the winner of the Barangay Ginebra-Rain or Shine series.
David finished with 37 points built around eight triples with rookies JV Casio and Marcio Lassiter also delivering crucial baskets when the Tigers needed them most.
“They said that there was no chance in hell (that we would win this series),” David said. “But look at us now: we’re in heaven.”
B-Meg followed Mobiline in 1999 and Talk ‘N Text in 2002 as the only No. 1 seeds ever to be foiled by the lowest-ranked squad in the first round of the playoffs.
Powerade forged the extension at 115 when David drained a three-pointer under heavy pressure with 11.7 seconds left.
After a James Yap fumble, the Tigers also muffed a chance to win it in regulation by failing to get a decent inbound in the final 4.3.
B-Meg was comfortably ahead, 94-80, with 7:55 left in the fourth before Powerade hit its stride behind David and the slightly injured Casio.
The Tigers clawed their way back from a couple of 17-point first-half deficits even without their two prime point guards in Celino Cruz and Casio, whom they lost in a 14-second span near the halfway mark of the third period.
Casio, who was trying to pick a foul from Josh Urbiztondo while trying to take a three-point shot, stepped on the foot of the B-Meg guard and twisted his right ankle in the process with 7:26 left and the Llamados enjoying a 71-57 lead.
Cruz replaced Casio and, probably thinking that Urbiztondo intentionally left his foot on Casio’s landing area, planted an elbow on the chest of Urbiztondo on the other end and almost started a melee.
He was promptly thrown out. Casio returned to action late in the third quarter but was clearly bothered by the injury.
Action resumes Wednesday with Rain or Shine and Petron Blaze shooting to close out different foes and seal their respective places in the Final Four.
Talk ‘N Text, the defending champion, was the first squad to get there after nosing out Barako Bull in the first game of their quarterfinal matchup.
The scores:
POWERADE 131—David 37, Casio 22, Lassiter 19, Anthony 13, Vanlandingham 11, Kramer 10, Cruz 6, Antonio 6, Adducul 4, Lingganay 3, Allera 0, Crisano 0.
B-MEG 123—Raymundo 26, Simon 25, J. Yap 23, Pingris 14, Devance 11, Barroca 10, De Ocampo 7, Reavis 7, Urbiztondo 2, R. Yap 2.
Quarters: 23-30, 47-57, 78-87, 115-all, 131-123