MANILA, Philippines - Streaking Petron Blaze went to Dennis Miranda in the fourth quarter to turn back Barako Bull, 75-66, last night and keep its hold of the third spot in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Miranda stepped up to fire 10 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, keying the injury-hit Boosters’ closing 24-14 run to whisk off the Energy and record their fourth straight win and seventh overall in 10 games.
“I just played more aggressive in the fourth quarter and that helped me get this kind of game,” said Miranda in Filipino.
Petron thus kept its grip of No. 3 and moved closer to pacesetter Talk N’ Text (7-1) and second-running Rain or Shine (7-2).
“He really stepped up big for us because we’re missing a lot of our key players and Alex (Cabagnot) and Arwind (Santos) had off nights,” said Petron coach Ato Agustin, who continued to miss Jay Washington and Rabeh Al Hussaini due to injuries.
The Boosters also played without Chris Lutz, who sustained a hamstring injury the last time out.
Santos actually teamed up with Miranda in the last period, pouring 10 of his 15 points while Lordy Tugade, back after being sidelined for four months due to a hand injury, finished with 11 points.
The Energy, led by Willie Miller and Dorian Peña’s 16 points apiece, fell to their fourth defeat against five wins.
Mick Pennisi, who drilled three triples, was tossed out with less than two minutes remaining after incurring a flagrant foul 1 on Santos. He earlier incurred a technical foul to merit the ejection.
Later in the night, Alaska Milk bucked Powerade rookie JV Casio’s career-effort as it eked out a 121-111 victory to keep its flickering playoff hopes alive with its second win in nine games.
LA Tenorio and Tony Dela Cruz shot 23 points apiece while Mac Baracael turned in a 22-point output and Sonny Thoss added 18 as the Aces survived a fierce Powerade comeback to stay in the hunt.
Casio fired 24 points and dished off 11 assists but the Tigers failed to sustain their fightback and tumbled to their seventh defeat against three wins.
The scores:
First Game
Petron 75 – Miranda 21, Santos 15, Tugade 11, Cabagnot 8, Ildefonso 8, Baclao 4, Guevarra 4, Reyes 2, Yeo 2, Agustin 0, Sharma 0.
Barako 66 – Miller 16, Pena 16, Pennisi 12, Allado 9, Najorda 4, Salvador 4, Arboleda 3, Seigle 2, Ababou 0, Artadi 0, Salvacion 0.
Quarterscores: 12-18, 35-33, 51-52, 75-66
Second game
Alaska 121 – Tenorio 23, Dela Cruz 23, Baracael 22, Thoss 18, Reyes 8, Salamat 7, Custodio 7, Baguio 7, Eman 4, Bugia 2.
Powerade 111 – Casio 26, Lassiter 25, David 20, Kramer 12, Cruz 6, Antonio 6, Adducul 4, Crisano 4, Martinez 3, Calimag 3, Anthony 2, Vanlandingham 0, Allera 0.
Quarterscores: 25-23, 57-45, 89-79, 121-111 (FREEMAN)