Photo by Nuki Sabio/PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Cabagnot more than made up for missing crucial freethrows as he delivered the game-clinching floater and allowing Petron Blaze to escape a peksy Air21, 98-97, Friday night in the 2012 PBA Governor’s Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Cabagnot, who misfired on potential go-ahead freebies with 2:23 left, took over in the clutch once again as he eluded his defender, launched the shot and handed the Boosters the all-important win.
In showcasing his nerves of steel anew, Cabagnot finished with 13 points and five rebounds, although there wouldn’t even have been a winning shot if not for Jay Washington’s game-long heroics.
Washington nailed a jumper off the glass with 48 seconds left, then didn’t buckle from the line with seven ticks which gave Petron the lead back after a huge triple from Air21’s Zach Graham.
Washington, regaining his old, dominant form this conference for the Boosters, underscored the win with a team-best 23 points, two assists, five rebounds and three blocks.
The game seemed headed for a down-the-wire finish as Petron struggled to shake off Air21, who was trying to play spoilsport, the entire game — with its biggest lead at eight.
The win puts Petron in the semifinals phase, and spoiled a phenomenal performance from an NBA-hopeful Graham.
Graham was just all over the place all night — knocking down treys, cleaning up the glass, dishing out to his teammates and defending tightly.
But his 40 points, higlighted by a tough go-ahead triple in the last 37 seconds, 10 rebounds, and seven assists were not enough to give the also ran-Express a graceful exit this conference.
Graham sorely outplayed Petron’s import Eddie Basden who only had seven points.
Three other teams have secured a spot in the six-team, round robin semifinals namely Rain or Shine, Talk N’ Text and Ginebra.