Petron Blaze back on winning track, deals Ginebra third loss

Mark Caguioa vs Joseph Yeo PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines — Joseph Yeo and Arwind Santos made key executions in clutch as Petron Blaze nipped Barangay Ginebra 98-95 to get back on the winning track Sunday in the 2012 PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Boosters, after losing two straight games, played with more grit down the stretch and relied on Yeo to nail a go-ahead bucket before Santos came up with a crucial rebound in the final second.

“It was really a team effort for us, everybody’s helping out,” said Petron head coach Olsen Racela. “I think Petron plays better with an injured lineup.”

“Santos and Lutz are really consistent for us; Cabagnot played well; Washington is really patient waiting for his minutes; Yeo hit big threes,” Racela added.

Yeo, whose finger roll with 57.1 seconds left brought Petron back in the lead, played consistently throughout and had 16 markers at the end of the night.

Cabagnot paced the Boosters with 25 markers, but couldn’t ice the game as he made just one of the two freethrows which gave them a precarious 98-95 edge with 8.1 ticks remaining.

The Kings had time to tie the game but Mark Caguiao flubbed a contested triple and it was Santos who zoomed to get the crucial bounce.

Santos, who thought his squad played with more heart this time, tallied 22 points and pulled 17 rebounds for Petron, which improved to 2-3.

Barangay Ginebra, meanwhile, after starting with so much zing at 2-0, has lost on its third straight assignment after a miscommunication down the wire keyed in its doom.

LA Tenorio, who improved offensively Sunday night and finished with 15 points, threw too strong of a pass to Willie Wilson, botching a chance to tie the game anew with 9.4 ticks.

Caguioa finished with 23 points — allowing the Kings to get back in the game at the fourth — but missed on a chance to send the game into overtime.

The scores:

PETRON 98 – Cabagnot 25, Santos 22, Lutz 18, Yeo 16, Pena 6, Washington 4, Ildefonso 4, Lanete 2, Mallari 1, Sison 0, Miranda 0.
GINEBRA 95 – Caguioa 23, Tenorio 15, Raymundo 14, Ellis 8, Wilson 8, Maierhofer 7, Mamaril 7, Helterbrand 7, Maliksi 5, Jensen 1, Hatfield 0.