Llamados rip Clickers, earn q'final edge

MANILA, Philippines - B-Meg took nothing to chance against Shopinas.com, imposing its will early and keeping a comfortable lead throughout in an 86-74 win that assured the Llamados of a twice-to-beat advantage in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals.

Joe Devance, Josh Urbiztondo, Val Acuna and James Yap combined for 8-of-13 three-point shooting to highlight the Llamados’ searing offense that gave them a 10-4 (win-loss) finish in the elimination round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

B-Meg will gain the top seeding in the playoffs should Barangay Ginebra top Talk n Text at the close of the elims Sunday. The Texters end up No. 1 if they beat the Kings.

The Llamados assured themselves of at least No. 2 spot while dealing the Clickers their 14th straight loss.

Shopinas wound up winless in the tourney – only the second team to suffer that depressing fate in 12 years and third in 16 years.

Air21, another Lina Group franchise now carrying the banner of Barako Bull, failed to break into the win-column in the last Governors Cup. Before Air21 and Shopinas, Pop Cola was the last team to finish without winning a single game in the 1999 Governors Cup.

 “We played a very good first quarter and that was our target – to get out and try to make a statement early. We don’t want them to build confidence,” said B-Meg coach Tim Cone, whose wards opened a 19-2 run and never looked back.

“We’ve got through the elims, and it’s now playoff time,” Cone added.

The multi-titled mentor and B-Meg main man James Yap said it wouldn’t be easy despite holding a twice-to-beat edge.

“Even if you have that advantage, you run to a hot team and you’re in trouble,” said Cone.

“Playoff is entirely different from the elims. Games are more physical; players are all aching to win,” said Yap.

Barangay Ginebra continued to get going, thwarting Barako Bull, 88-83, to tie Rain or Shine at fourth place at 8-5 in the nightcap.

The Kings secured a spot in the best-of-three quarterfinals while the Energy settled for seventh place, facing a quarterfinals opponent with a twice-to-beat advantage.

The two-time MVP winner struggled for five points on 2-of-8 shooting but practically the rest of the team shot well as they dominated the Clickers.

Devance fired two treys and finished with 18 points, Urbiztondo added three triples and a total of 11 markers while Marc Pingris had 11 points and 12 rebounds.

James Sena put in a personal conference-best of 20 points that went with 13 rebounds for the losing team. It was his sixth double-double outing.