Tigers back to life, level series

MANILA, Philippines - Marcio Lassiter, a no-factor Wednesday, showed up in his deadliest form in a teamup with Gary David as Powerade got back at Rain or Shine, 121-113, in Game Two of their PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Lassiter and David exploded throughout the night, combining for 62 points as the Tigers came roaring back from their 97-114 defeat in the series opener.

David, the league scoring leader, came through with a fourth straight 30-point performance with 32 while Lassiter delivered 30 after a dismal two-point showing Wednesday.

“No doubt that one of the keys is Marcio,” said Powerade coach Bo Perasol.

“I challenged him; I told him many are asking why he always gets lost in critical games. He responded with a resounding good offensive and defensive game,” Perasol added.

The Fil-Am rookie came out firing, rifling in nine in the opening quarter, and stepping up the most as Powerade broke away in the third period.

The versatile 6-foot-3 player went 3-of-7 from the three-point area, 7-of-14 from the two-point zone and 7-of-7 from the stripe for the biggest output by a rookie this season.

He also got away with seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block against two turnovers in 40 minutes of action.

David converted two triples, seven twinners and 12 charities for his fourth straight 30-point performance.

The Tigers cut loose from a tight game in the third period and stayed in control until the end with Sean Anthony, Doug Kramer, Jvee Casio, Celino Cruz and Romel Adducul also doing their jobs.

Anthony tallied 11 points and 15 rebounds in a solid game he capped with a big block on Larry Rodriguez at the finish.

Two free throws by David in the ensuing play settled the outcome of the game at 119-112 with less than a minute left to play.

“We started well, better than what we did in the first game. But I felt we got the short end of the officiating. That got us out of focus,” rued Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

Guiao and assistant coach Caloy Garcia called a technical foul each at the height of Powerade’s third-quarter breakaway.

Lassiter and David fuelled a mighty Powerade charge in the third quarter as the Tigers seized control at 91-77.

The two Powerade gunners combined for 28 markers in the period.

The two teams fought through five deadlocks and five lead changes in the first half that ended at 58-57 in favor of the Elasto Painters.

Rain or Shine opened a seven-point lead at 52-45 but Powerade quickly fought back, pulling even at 52 on baskets by Kramer and Anthony.

Gabe Norwood beat the buzzer with a jumper as the Elasto Painters gained the one-point edge at the turn.

Ronjay Buenafe and Lassiter, who both had a dismal showing for their respective teams Wednesday, produced big numbers right in the first half in this contest.

Both had made three triples and a total of 13 markers by the half.

Both teams shot the ball well with the Elasto Painters going 7-of-12 and the Tigers 5-of-8 from beyond the arc in the first two quarters.