Tigers feast on Texters

OMAR Sneed scattered 32 points and snared down a night-high 23 rebounds while Gary David was just average with 28 markers as Powerade tripped Talk ‘N Text, 110-105, for a second straight win in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Tigers remained undefeated in two games with Sneed as their import as Powerade (2-2) rose to the middle of the 10-team pack while dealing the Tropang Texters a third loss in four games that kept the powerhouse squad in the cellar.

“How could you not have confidence if you have a teammate like Omar? He brings out that feeling (in his teammates) that we can beat any team,” Powerade coach Bo Perasol said. “What’s important is that he’s not only unselfish, but he’s also producing.”

Sneed, the oldest import in the field at 35 and a Euro League veteran, scored 12 points and David 11 in the third period as the Tigers wiped out a five-point halftime deficit to take a 10-point lead into the payoff frame.

The duo then combined for 16 points in the fourth and got a lot of help from Rey Guevarra in holding off several comeback attempts by the Texters, who are in one of their worst starts in the highly successful Chot Reyes era.

Guevarra finished with 11 points, including a slam dunk and a double-pumping short stab in a critical span in the fourth period that kept the Tigers above water.

Guevarra has averaged 13 points in the last two games for the Tigers. Rabeh Hussaini finished with 10 points and five rebounds.

In the second game, Petron Blaze, coming out more focused and more determined, vented its ire on Alaska and routed the Aces, 107-94, to get back on the winning track.

The Boosters were in control right from the opening tip and led by as many as 22 points before rising to 3-1 overall and dealing the Aces a second straight loss in a 1-3 card.

The scores:

First Game

POWERADE 110—Sneed 32, David 28, Guevarra 11, Al-Hussaini 10, Casio 8, Lingganay 7, Salvador 6, Anthony 4, Vanlandingham 2, Antonio 2, Tugade 0.

TALK N’ TEXT 105—Harris 22, Alapag 17, Peek 16, De Ocampo 15, Williams 13, Fonacier 11, Gamalinda 5, Aguilar 2, Dillinger 2, Aban 2, Raymundo 0, Alvarez 0.

Quarters: 20-25, 44-51, 78-68, 110-105

Second Game

PETRON 107—Basden 29, Lutz 14, Santos 13, Washington 12, Ildefonso 12, Yeo 7, Miranda 7, Pena 7, Doruelo 2, Lanete 2, Cabagnot 2, Baclao 0, Reyes 0.

ALASKA 94—Espinas 18, Thoss 18, Tenorio 17, Forte 16, Baguio 16, Baracael 5, Jazul 2, Custodio 2, Eman 0, Dela Cruz 0.

Quarters: 23-18, 47-39, 78-63, 107-94