MANILA, Philippines—A steady force for Petron Blaze, Nick Fazekas finally got the needed shot in the arm from his teammates.
Fazekas had 23 points and 16 rebounds as the Boosters avoided a huge hole with an 84-77 win over the B-Meg Llamados Sunday night in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
In contrast to their losses to Meralco and Barangay Ginebra, the Boosters were all fired-up with Joseph Yeo, Alex Cabagnot, Dennis Miranda and Arwind Santos also finishing in double digits.
“We moved the ball better unlike the past two games when the offense was focused on Nick,” said Petron coach Ato Agustin. “Local support was the key in this game.”
Ball distribution was far better when Fazekas tallied 70 points and 35 rebounds in two games combined.
The Boosters led by as many as 19 twice in the third quarter and almost squandered the advantage in several crucial stretches, the last one on Roger Yap’s triple, 69-76, midway in the fourth.
But Fazekas and Santos responded with baskets in the paint and the Boosters finally got out of a 0-2 start with key defensive plays in the end.
Yeo intercepted a Roger Yap kick out and Fazekas blocked Yap’s drive on the next play, sealing B-Meg’s first defeat in three games.
Earlier, Air21 got its first win of the season with Nelbert Omolon firing 17 points and Marcus Douthit adding 16 points and 17 rebounds as the Express clinched a breakthrough victory at Barako Bull’s expense, 97-88, after going 0-14 last conference.
Shooting guard RJ Jazul made 15 on three of six three-pointers, James Sena muscled his way to 13 points and power forward Mark Isip, traded with Omolon from Meralco in the off-season, finished with 10 points, hinting of better things to come for the Express.
After sinking their first nine shots, Air21 coach Franz Pumaren felt this could be the break they’ve long been waiting for to snap out of a demoralizing streak.
“The minute Marcus stepped into practice the other day, everybody’s in a good mood and our confidence shot up,” said Pumaren during his first post-game interview of the season.
The scores:
First Game
AIR 21 97—Omolon 17, Douthit 16, Jazul 15, Sena 13, Isip 10, Escobal 7, Duncil 6, Hubalde 5, Ritualo 5, Espiritu 3, Mirza 0, Faundo 0.
BARAKO 88—Johnson 37, Miller 14, Arboleda 12, Najorda 9, Allado 6, Seigle 4, Lanete 2, Pennisi 2, Pena 2, Weinstein 0, Salvador 0, Tubid 0.
Quarters: 33-13, 57-36, 77-60, 97-88
Second Game
PETRON 84—Fazekas 23, Yeo 15, Cabagnot 14, Miranda 12, Santos 10, Guevarra 6, Agustin 2, Ildefonso 2, Sharma 0, Tugade 0.
B-MEG 77—Bowles 22, J. Yap 16, Simon 12, Devance 9, Pingris 7, Barroca 4, R. Yap 3, Intal 2, Reavis 2, Urbiztondo 0, De Ocampo 0.
Quarters: 29-16, 45-36, 66-56, 84-77