Tigers oust Energy, face Meralco in KO

BARAKO Bull’s Celino Cruz sneaks in a pass off Powerade’s Omar Sneed in last night’s game that was still being played at presstime. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

GAME TODAY (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

6:45 p.m.—Meralco vs Powerade

POWERADE did something it has never done before in its resurgence as a legitimate PBA force this season, and that is win a tight game without Gary David in the stretch.

With their leading local scorer sidelined in the last three quarters, the Tigers pulled out a 99-95 win over Barako Bull last night to live another day in the Governors’ Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Josh Vanlandingham ably filled in for David, shooting all of his 18 points after their team leader hit the bench, and Omar Sneed flirted with a triple-double as the Tigers advanced to another KO match against Meralco today.

Sneed tossed in 24 points, had 15 rebounds, eight assists, five steals and a block.

“His absence is a big thing, but we barely felt it because his production was ably filled by our bench players,” coach Bo Perasol said of David, who left the game due to a foot injury.

An 11-0 run early in the third quarter had the Tigers peeling away from a 54-all game and they rode it all the way to the end with Vanlandingham hitting some clutch three pointers and Sneed doing almost everything.

Though the Tigers were in command from there, the Energy didn’t stop trying, coming to within 89-95 only for game officials to do a boo-boo by failing to call a three-second violation on Sneed in one crucial play.

Sneed lay in the shaded lane for more than five seconds, and JV Casio escaped with a lay-up that gave the Tigers a 97-89 lead going into the final 1:42.

Six players scored twin digits for Perasol, counting David’s 13 which he shot all in the first period.

Meanwhile, Petron brought in yesterday Italian league veteran Paul Marigney as a possible replacement for the hurting Eddi Basden.

Marigney, however, will have to prove he can play defense before he will be able to suit up. Waiting in the wings are Anthony Grundy and Anthony Johnson.

The scores:

POWERADE 99—Sneed 24, Vanlandingham 18, David 13, Anthony 10, Guevarra 10, Casio 10, Lingganay 7, Salvador 4, Belasco 2, Tugade 1, Adducul 0.

BARAKO BULL 95—Hickerson 20, Seigle 20, Kramer 14, Miller 10, Tubid 9, Pennisi 8, Cruz 7, Allado 7, Vergara 0, Salvacion 0.

Quarters: 28-26, 52-52, 79-70, 99-95