Shell outlasts

Shell Velocity, behind a career-best game of Mark Clemence Telan, survived Red Bull in an overtime thriller, keeping its winning run in the Alaxan PBA All-Filipino Cup with a 79-78 decision last night at the PhilSports Arena.

Coming out like a man in mission, Telan gamely assumed the fireman's role for Shell, establishing a career-high for the second time in less than two weeks with 26 points that included a game-winning basket with five-tenths of a second left in the extra period.

Telan, who eclipsed his previous best mark of 16 points with 21 in their 76-66 rout of Alaska on March 25, turned from hero to heel to hero again as he lifted Shell to its fourth win in 10 games.

The Shell forward figured in a fierce shootout with college rival Edmund Reyes in overtime but the former La Salle standout had the last laugh as he stole the victory from Red Bull on his heroics in the closing seconds.

Reyes, a former UST King Tiger, fired 12 points, including eight in the extra period. He, however, ruined Red Bull's game when he fumbled a crucial inbound by Ato Agustin in the last six seconds, giving the Zoom Masters the chance to preserve the win in the game they dominated in regulation.

And Shell did preserve the win with Telan, given the first option on the play designed by coach Perry Ronquillo, gamely took the throw-in in the baseline, then, without hesitation, drove past Davonn Harp for the winning basket.

Red Bull suffered its ninth defeat in 10 games.

"How can't you be proud of this team when your 10th, 11th and 12th men are playing well, responding to your call. But, of course, the biggest should go to Telan. He played big-time tonight," said Shell mentor Perry Ronquillo.

"Not that I'm his coach now. But I really believe Telan has the making of a star player. If he continues to play that way, he'll become a superstar someday," added Ronquillo of his acquisition, who also marked his splendid performance with 14 points and three blocks.

Gerry Esplana returned from sick bay but hardly made his presence felt with only two points in 13 minutes of action.

Benjie Paras came off the bench for the second straight game but reinjured his foot late in the fourth quarter. -