Paul Harris lay-up against Marc Pingris and Marcus. PBA IMAGES/NUKI SABIO
MANILA, Philippines—B-Meg survived Talk ‘N Text, 94-91, Saturday night for a crucial semifinals win in the 2012 PBA Governors’ Cup at the state-of-the-art SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The nip-and-tuck game marked the first ever sporting event held at the MOA Arena.
“10 to 15 years from now people will remember that we were the first team to play here and won here, we felt like we made a little history there,” said B-Meg head coach Tim Cone, who also racked up his 700th coaching win.
Import Marcus Blakely showcased his all-around game anew with a stat-sheet stuffing 26 points, 20 rebounds, three assists, five steals and four blocks. The six-foot-five workhorse also shot two-of-two from downtown.
“That’s just him (Blakely). He was struggling in the first half and in the second half we came out and just took over,” said Cone.
Cone though sounded more impressed with his other guys Mark Barroca and Yancy de Ocampo.
De Ocampo gave the Llamados the physical presence inside and came away with 10 points, three rebounds and two blocks while Barroca had seven points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Barroca played a key role as he stepped up with swingman JC Intal and James Yap hobbled by injuries.
Yap played 14 minutes but didn’t score due to back spasms he incurred during the pre-game shootaround.
The Llamados held the Tropang Texters to just a field goal in the last 6:50 of the game.
B-Meg, which rallied from a double-digit deficit twice, broke loose midway through the fourth period and looked well on its way to a win after leading, 94-88, on Josh Urbiztondo split at the line with 40.2 ticks left.
TNT came to within three, 91-94, on a triple by Larry Fonacier and had a chance to tie but Ranidel de Ocampo’s three-point attempt went way off the mark.
The win put B-Meg in solo second with a 7-3 card.