MANILA—On the verge of being sent home, Stephon Hannah gave the B-Meg management and coaching staff something to think about last night.
Atoning for past performances that bordered on the pathetic, Hannah scored all of his 23 points in the second half while teaming up with James Yap as B-Meg slipped past Meralco, 104-92, in the PBA Governors’ Cup eliminations at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Yap fouled out with under three minutes left, after firing 26 points that practically sealed the Llamados’ second win against the same number of losses.
After opening up with two straight wins, Meralco slumped to a second straight loss and fell into a tie with B-Meg and Alaska, which scored a 98-84 decision over the Air21 Express in the first game (See story on A29).
“He’s making a case for himself,” B-Meg coach Jorge Gallent said of his diminutive import, who came into the game averaging just over 11 points in their first three matches, two of them ugly losses.
“This is his first big game.”
Hannah, who also had three rebounds, three assists and four steals, was big in the third period as he shot 11 points that lifted the Llamados ahead by as many as 10 points.
The Llamados also had five steals in the third and a total of 14 points off fastbreaks.
Yap’s two straight triples allowed B-Meg to take a 77-69 lead going into the last frame.
The win was a big sendoff for B-Meg, which leaves for Dubai today for its clash with Grand Slam-seeking Talk ‘N Text on Thursday.
The Tropang Texters will actually play two games there, as they battle the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings the following day.
No games will be played in the country on Wednesday and Friday, with the regular schedule to resume on Sunday.
Meralco actually came within 87-90 with 3:50 left after a reverse layup by Gabby Espinas.
The scores:
B-MEG 104—Yap J. 26, Hannah 23, Devance 21, Simon 17, Pingris 9, Yap R. 6, Villanueva 2, Gaco 0, Fernandez 0, Adducul 0, Allado 0.
MERALCO 92—Oguchi 27, Mercado 23, Espinas 19, Ritualo 9, Isip 6, Omolon 4, Gamalinda 2, Taulava 2, Timberlake 0, aljamal 0, Hugnatan 0.
Quarters: 21-28, 44-42, 77-69, 104-92