Petron exacts revenge, routs Rain or Shine

Game today (MOA Arena)

5 p.m. – Ginebra vs San Mig Coffee

MANILA, Philippines - Worn down in an up-tempo duel in the first game then reduced to a pulp in a rugged, physical battle in the next, Petron Blaze used hot shooting hands to pull off a huge 106-73 vengeful victory over Rain or Shine in Game Three of their PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinal confrontation at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City yesterday.

Beaten by a combined margin of 27 points in the first two games, the Boosters, their ego bruised, topped that as they cranked up and fired on all cylinders all the way to garbage time of the lopsided match marred by the ejection of Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao in the third quarter.

The Boosters torched the Elasto Painters with a burning 8-of-14 three-point shooting in the first half and blazed through to the finish, thus avoiding falling to a deep 0-3 hole.

Instead, Petron has a chance to catch up with Rain or Shine at 2-2 in Game Four set at 8 p.m. tomorrow at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra and San Mig Coffee break their two-game standoff in Game Three of their own semis duel at 5 p.m. tonight at the MOA Arena.

The Kings come off their biggest win in five years and the Mixers from their worst playoffs loss in 16 years.

“The good news for us is you don’t get extra wins in the series for a blowout. It’s still just 1-1,” said coach Tim Cone whose San Mig team was blown off the floor by Ginebra, 93-64, Friday. “But we certainly have to pick it up, me especially.”

The Boosters worked with their butts out for 48 minutes to fashion out their own rout of the E-Painters.

“In the first game, we were surprised by the physicality of the semis. We played well in the second game but it wasn’t enough. We knew what to do all throughout in this game,” said Petron coach Gee Abanilla.

“We fouled less in this game. We sent them to the line just a few times. And Junmar was patient enough finding open guys. He’s slowly adapting to it and recognizing it properly,” Abanilla also said.

Petron gunners Alex Cabagnot, Chris Lutz, Arwind Santos, Marcio Lassiter and Ronald Tubid came out to provide center Junmar Fajardo the help they failed to supply in Game One and Game Two.

They combined for six three-pointers in the opening quarter and a total of eight in the first half as the Boosters pulled away early without looking back.

In the series’ first two games, the Petron backcourt and wing players failed to complement Fajardo’s inside game.

Making the push together in Game Three, the Boosters stormed to a 59-36 halftime lead and hardly ceased even with the outcome beyond reach in the homestretch.

Santos, the league reigning MVP, delivered an MVP performance, coming up with 22 points and 18 rebounds – his ninth double-double game in the conference.

And Santos drew the second technical foul resulting in  the ejection of Guiao late in the third as the Petron ace forward showboated a little in front of the Rain or Shine bench after saving a loose ball. Guiao showed a dirty finger as Santos ran in front of him.

Fajardo collected 14 markers and 12 boards for a league-best 14th double-double game. Cabagnot, Lassiter and Lutz contributed 15, 13 and 11, respectively.

The Boosters pounded the Elasto Painters right in the first quarter with a 6-of-10 three-point shooting, 4-of-10 twinners and 4-of-4 charities.

Petron showed no mercy and pulled off its biggest win since its 122-88 walloping of Talk n Text during the 2013 Governors Cup.