Reavies powers Tigers past Pals

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Rafi Reavies, overpowered by Asi Taulava most of the way, took the better end of their duel at endgame and Coca-Cola checked a four-game skid with a 79-78 decision over Talk N Text in a road game in the Samsung PBA All-Filipino Cup at the Bren Guiao Sports Center here last night.

Taulava came up with his seventh straight double-double performance but Reavies negated this as the 6-foot-8 Fil-Am frolicked at crunch time, leading the Tigers to their fifth win in nine outings.

Reavies did everything in the homestretch, hitting a crucial basket, pulling off two defensive stops both against Taulava and snaring offensive rebounds to personally foil Joel Banal’s debut as interim mentor of the Phone Pals.

Banal and the Phone Pals bungled a shot at grabbing second place from the Tigers in Group B as they suffered a fifth defeat against four wins.

Reavies finished with eight points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

Coca-Cola and Talk N Text engaged in a close duel throughout with the Tigers finally sealing the match at 79-75 only with seven seconds left to play after Jeffrey Cariaso sank two charities off a foul by Taulava.

Reavies himself made possible Cariaso’s trip to the lane by saving possession in a fierce rebound battle with practically the whole Talk N Text unit on the floor.

Earlier, with Coca-Cola holding a scary 77-75 lead, Reavies foiled a short jumper by Taulava. And after William Antonio missed a long baseline attempt, Reavies drew an offensive foul from Taulava with time down to 40.7 seconds.

Antonio had another missed shot but Reavies once again came to the Tigers’ rescue, pulling down a big offensive rebound.

Meanwhile, Red Bull seeks to stretch its franchise record run to eight games as the Thunder go up against the Barangay Ginebra Kings at the resumption of action at the Philsports Arena today.

Alaska Milk and Purefoods clash in a duel of the Group A pacesetter and tail-ender in the other game.