PBA: Llamados rip Kings; Bolts stay in hunt

MANILA, Philippines—B-Meg played its biggest game to rip Barangay Ginebra, 109-103, Sunday night and seize solo second place in the biggest crowd-drawing game in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“There were a lot of big shots (made by us) out there,” B-Meg coach Tim Cone said after five Llamados scored in twin digits to defuse several rallies by the Gin Kings. “We had a good shooting night.”

Denzel Bowles scored 19 of his 27 points in the final half and Mark Barocca and Peter June Simon each tossed in 18 as the Llamados won a second straight game to rise to 4-2 overall while dealing the Kings a second consecutive setback in a 3-3 card.

Meralco earlier survived a second do-or-die game, throttling another high-scoring foe in Rain or Shine to stay in the running for a playoff berth.

Earl Barron scored 29 points and grabbed 22 boards to lead the B-Boys to a 93-84 decision of Rain or Shine which practically eliminated the Elasto Painters from further contention.

“We’re playing through incredible instincts right now,” Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio said. “We know what’s at stake and it’s survival. Our goal is to pretty much leave everything on the floor and see if that’s enough for us to win.”

The B-Boys held the Painters, who came into the game averaging 103 points, to just 39 halftime markers, and Mac Cardona joined Barron in several spurts in the second and third quarters that boosted Meralco ahead by as many as 22 points.

Meralco rose to 3-4 while dealing the Painters a third straight loss in a 1-5 card that all but doomed Rain or Shine with just three games left in its schedule.

So effective was the Meralco defense that Rain or Shine import Duke Crews, who came into the game seeking a follow-up to a 41-point night, was held down to just 21 on a 4-of-13 clip from the floor.

Jackson Vroman had 36 points and rookie Dylan Ababou finished with 15, but the other usual heavy Ginebra scorers like Kerby Raymundo and Mike Cortez were held to harmless numbers by the physical B-Meg defense.

B-Meg played with complete control, having an answer for evey Ginebra ploy including the trapping defense by the Kings which Barocca, Simon and Urbiztondo broke with impunity.

Ginebra actually tied it at 85 in the early stages of the fourth but Vroman and Ababou, the former University of Santo Tomas star, lacked support as they scored all but six of the Kings’ 24 fourth quarter points.

Meralco won over Ginebra on Wednesday and held the Gin Kings to just 82 points.

The scores
First Game
MERALCO 93—Barron 29, Cardona 25, Hugnatan 16, Espinas 12, Ross 5, Mercado 4, Macapagal 2, Timberlake 0, Borboran 0, Taulava 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 84—Crews 21, Lee 13, Buenafe 12, Norwood 8, Quinahan 8, Cruz 4, Chan 4, Ibanes 4, Matias 3, Belga 3, Tang 2, Arana 2.
Quarters: 30-18, 47-39, 72-61, 93-84

Second Game
B-MEG 109—Bowles 27, Simon 18, Barroca 18, Yap J. 15, Urbiztondo 12, Devance 7, Reavis 5, Pingris 4, De Ocampo 3, Intal 0.
GINEBRA 93—Vroman 26, Ababou 15, Helterbrand 14, Caguioa 11, Canaleta 8, Raymundo 8, Hatfield 4, Wilson W. 3, Labagala 2, Cortez 2, Wilson J. 0, Mamaril 0.
Quarters: 20-26, 46-45, 75-69, 109-93