Tigers regain share of lead; Dragons torch Pals

Tigers regain share of lead; Dragons torch Pals

By: Zean Macamay and Elmer Manuel Source: Journal.com.ph

Taulava: 21 points & 15 rebounds Standings W L Red Bull 6 2 Coca-Cola 6 2 Talk N Text 5 3 Air21 4 3 Sta. Lucia 4 3 Magnolia 4 4 Welcoat 3 5 Purefoods 2 4 Alaska 2 5 Ginebra 1 6 Game Today: (Calape, Bohol) 4:30 p.m.-- Alaska vs Purefoods Games Tomorrow: (Araneta Coliseum) 4:30 p.m. -- Sta. Lucia vs Air21 6:50 p.m. -- Ginebra vs Talk ‘N Text MAGNOLIA did a good job containing Jaxon Dixon on offense. The Beverage Masters, though, forgot all about George Gervin, Jr. The son of one of NBA’s greatest players scored a personal conference-high 35 points and Asi Taulava collected 21 points and 15 rebounds, powering Coca-Cola to a runaway 106-92 win over Magnolia last night in the Smart-PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum. Gervin, Jr. shot shot 13-of-26 from the floor and hit 18 points from the three-point area as the replacement import for the injured Calvin Cage may have finally convinced team officials of a permanent stay, steering the Tigers to a share of the lead with idle Red Bull at 6-2. "It was clear from the tip-off that they want to take Dixon out. And for most part of the game, they did a good job,” said Coca-Cola coach Binky Favis. “But I thought defense was the key, and Gervin really stepped up.” Dixon was held to a tournament low among imports with seven points, constantly double-teaming the Coca-Cola giant down low. Without finding rhythm, Dixon only took six shots in 39 minutes of action and made half of those. But Dixon still came away with 17 rebounds �" a personal conference high �" and added three assists and three steals. For the second straight game, Lordy Tugade led the Beverage Masters in scoring. He had 23 points, but didn’t get the support this time from the bench as when Magnolia defeated Red Bull 102-95 in Lipa City last May 4. Jameel Watkins contributed 14 points and 12 rebounds and Mike Cortez chipped in 14 points and six assists. Dondon Hontiveros was the only other Beverage Master in double figures with 11. Already with 18 points at the halfway mark of the game, Gervin, Jr. was not finished in dismantling Magnolia’s defense. He scored seven more in the third period, and then had 10 points when the Tigers broke the game wide open in the fourth quarter. With the Tigers ahead only by four points 75-71 entering the final period, Gervin, Jr. had nine points in Coca-Cola’s game-deciding 20-6 blast and they suddenly found themselves way ahead, 95-77, with only 4:17 left in the match. "For the first time, I think we won convincingly,” said Favis. Much of Magnolia’s woes began when import Watkins was called for his fifth foul with only 22.8 seconds left in the third quarter. He returned with still 9: 23 remaining in the game, but hardly created an impact. The loss was the fourth in eight games for Magnolia, which shot miserably from the floor, making only 31 of its 86 attempts for a poor 36 percent clip. The Beverage Masters also were outrebounded, 59-51 and had less points off turnovers, 18-10. But they had more fastbreak points, 21-5. In the second game, the Welcoat Dragons proved that their earlier victories over league giants were no fluke, as they eked out a come-from-behind 116-108 victory against favored Talk N Text. Down by 15 points in the first half, the coach Caloy Garcia-mentored team suddenly rose from the ashes, with Rob Wainwright hitting crucial back-to-back treys that gave them their first taste of the lead, 100-97, with 4:18 remaining. Joey Mente did his share, as he completed his free throws to give the Dragons their biggest lead, 102-97. After that, there was no looking back for the Dragons. Wainwright was named Best Player of the Game, finishing with 24 points -- 14 points in the final period -- and nine rebounds for the Dragons’ winning cause. Talk N Text held the lead for actually the whole game, but their defense suddenly got soft in the final canto. Welcoat improved to 3-5, while Talk N Text dropped from a share of second place to third place with a 5-3 slate. Meantime, Purefoods parades a new import in Rheda Rhalimi, a seven-footer, when it clashes with Alaska in Bohol as both teams try to snap their respective three-game winning streaks. Rhalimi, a Moroccan, replaces Darius Rice, an import with talented offensive skills and who once scored a conference-high 56 points. Rice, however, is not regarded as an import suited for the Giants because of his selfish, individual ways that deprives James Yap and Kerby Raymundo of touches on the ball. The scores: First Game Coke (106) -- Gervin 35, Taulava 21, Buenafe 13, Belasco 9, Cabagnot 8, Dixon 7, Telan 7, Macapagal 6, Catli 0, Dimaunahan 0. Magnolia (92) -- Tugade 23, Watkins 14, Cortez 14, Hontiveros 11, Pingris 7, Calaguio 6, Samigue 4, Racela 4, Villanueva 3, Gonzales 3, Tolomia 3, Pena 0. Quarterscores: 22-26, 50-51, 75-71, 106-92. Second Game Welcoat (116) -- Wainwright 24, Gainous 23, Santee 15, Reyes 15, Arana 13, De Vance 11, Mente 10, Ibanes 3, Isip 2, Dulay 0, Baguion 0. Talk N' Text (108) -- Alapag 24, McGhee 22, Cardona 19, Washington 14, Ritualo 11, De Ocampo 8, Allado 6, Carey 2, Peek 2, Chia 0, Lao 0. Quarterscores: 18-28, 55-60, 81-82, 116-108.