
Seventh win for Eastern
EASTERN played just hard enough to dismantle cellar-dweller Terrafirma, 133-110, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Six players, led by Ramon Cao and Kobey Lam, scored in double figures for the Hong Kong-based guest team, which joins NorthPort Batang Pier and Converge FiberXers in a three-way tie for the lead in the import-flavored, mid-season conference with seven wins against three losses.
Cao finished with 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting, and seven rebounds while Lam added 20 points, 10 assists and four rebounds for coach Mensur Bajramovic.
Steven Guinchard contributed 19 points on 6-of-7 from the three-point territory while Hayden Blankley had 16 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two blocks.
Bradon Edwards led the losing effort for the Dyip with 26 points shooting 8-of-13 from the field, and 17 rebounds in 44 minutes of play for coach Raymund Tiongco.
Aljun Melecio and Stanley Pringle added 17 and 16 points, respectively.
Last Thursday, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters crushed NorthPort Batang Pier, 127-107, and Magnolia Chicken Timplados humbled Phoenix Super LPG, 110-104, in a pair of all-importanc matches in the race for the quarterfinal berths.
Deon Thompson came through with 27 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks to power the Elasto Painters to victory over the Batang Pier.
More importantly, the win enabled Rain or Shine to forge a threer-way tie with Meralco, and Barangay Ginebra. with similar 6-3 win-loss record.
Santi Santillan and Adrian Nocum contributed 16 points each, with Nocum securing a double-double with 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Kadeem Jack was the lone bright spot for Batang Pier as he delivered a game-high 39 points, 11 rebounds, three steals, and two blocks .
Arvin Tolentino and Joshua Munzon added 19 and 17 points, respectively.
Later, Zav Lucero scored 25 points, including 3-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc, and added five rebounds, two assists, and a block in Magnolia’s much-needed victory over Phoemix.
Ricardo Ratliffe added 22 points and 19 rebounds. and Mark Barroca also contributed 22 points for the Hotshots, whpo kept their flickering quarterfinal hopes alive with a 4-6 slate.Phoenix’s Donovan Smith put on a stellar performance, scoring 40 points.
The scores:
First game
Rain or Shine (127) — Thompson 25, Nocum 16, Santillan 16, Caracut 13, Asistio 12, Datu 11, Norwood 7, Belga 10, Clarito 8, Tiongson 5, Malonzo 2, Lemetti 0, Ildefonso 0.
NorthPort (107) — Jack 39, Tolentino 19, Munzon 17, Flores 8, Cuntapay 5, Nelle 5, Miranda 4, Yu 3, Bulanadi 2, Onwubere 3, Navarro 2
Quarterscores: 33-18, 62-44, 96-75, 127-107.
Second game
Magnolia (110) — Lucero 25, Ratliffe 22, Barroca 22, Alfaro 14, Abueva 6, Lastimosa 6, Dionisio 5, Eriobu 5, Sangalang 4, Dela Rosa 1, Balanza 0, Mendoza 0, Reavis 0.
Phoenix (104) — Smith 40, Jazul 15, Perkins 15, Ballungay 13, Rivero 6, Tio 5, Manganti 4, Muyang 2, Tuffin 2, Verano 2, Garcia 0, Alejandro 0, Camacho 0, Daves 0, Salado 0, Ular 0.
Quarterscores: 29-34, 50-50, 83-76, 110-104.