Powerade Tigers set history, reach PBA finals

PBA IMAGE/ Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines – Powerade coach Bo Perasol insists that there is nothing “magical” in what Powerade has so far done in the PBA Philippine Cup. It’s actually historical.

The Tigers, whose Big Three again delivered when it counted most, ran roughshod over Rain or Shine for a 107-98 Game 7 victory Wednesday night at the Cuneta Astrodome and became the lowest seeded team to make it to a title series in the league.

“I don’t think we are any better than Rain or Shine,” Perasol said after getting 25 points from rookie JV Casio, 24 from Gary David and 17 from Marcio Lassiter in a game the Tigers controlled for all but the first two minutes.

“I just think it is our time to be here. I don’t think that we have a magical system that is working, but players who have winning in their hearts,” added Perasol, whose only previous Game 7 appearance ended in heartbreak with Air21 four years ago. “All the glory belongs to God.”

Not only did David, Casio and Lassiter played steadily, but the support that was missing in a lopsided Game 6 loss from their much-maligned backup was there to help doom the Elasto Painters.

Doug Kramer was in twin digits right in the first three periods and Celino Cruz and Will Antonio finished with 10 apiece as the Rain or Shine defense that concentrated on the three Powerade stars got befuddled right from the start.

Kramer, one of the shortest centers in the league, also had 15 rebounds, while Lassiter accounted for nine assists and seven boards. Casio had five rebounds and five feeds.

Entering the playoffs as the eighth seeds, the Tigers first clipped No. 1 B-Meg on two straight games before drawing the Painters, the fifth-ranked squad, who had an obvious edge in manpower in their Final Four series.

Sister squads Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel, both ranked sixth in different occasions in the past, were the lowest seeds ever to make it to a championship series.

Rain or Shine took a 6-0 lead before the Tigers dropped two separate 9-0 bursts to assume command and later on take leads of as many as 17 points in the first half and by as large as 21 in the third period.

Even Rommel Adducul, Powerade’s physical center who owns a not-so-pretty jumpshot, hit one from about 18 feet with 2:24 left in the second period for a 47-32 lead.

Rain or Shine certainly picked the worst time to play sloppy in the first three periods as only JR Quinahan was able to score in twin digits in that span.

The Painters’ tough defense was also in disarray as it bordered on the dirty in the early going with several technical fouls called.

Super Painters rookie Paul Lee was held down to harmless numbers offensively with the No. 2 overall choice scoring just four points in the first half, nine after three periods and 14 overall in the game that was the biggest in the history of the Rain or Shine franchise.

The Tigers thus advanced to face the winner of the Petron Blaze-Talk ‘N Text series, which is also playing its seventh game at presstime.

The championship opener starts tomorrow in Digos, Davao del Sur.

The scores:
POWERADE 107—Casio 25, David 24, Lassiter 17, Kramer 12, Cruz 10, Antonio 10, Anthony 5, adducul 4, Vanlandingham 0, Crisano 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 98—Quinahan 16, Lee 14, Chan 14, Norwood 13, Buenafe 12, Matias 10, Belga 10, Cruz 6, Rodriguez 2, Arana 1, Uyloan 0, Ibanes 0.
Quarters: 22-18; 52-39; 84-65; 107-98