Llamados out to keep solo 2nd

MANILA, Philippines - B-Meg tries to stay right behind frontrunner Rain or Shine while Petron Blaze and Talk n Text fight to stay alive at the resumption of the PBA Governors Cup carryover semifinal round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight. 

The Llamados outfought the Tropang Texters, 94-91, Thursday for an auspicious start in the semis, keeping them safe at second place behind the Elasto Painters (9-2) with a 7-3 win-loss record.

Had they dropped that match, the Llamados would have been at third place now behind the Elasto Painters and the Barangay Ginebra Kings (7-4).

Talk n Text and Petron Blaze, on the other hand, lost their recent outings, thus, moving on the brink of elimination.

“One miss and we die,” said Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes of the situation they’re in right now.

And the Tropang Texters intend to give all they’ve got in a bid to keep their hopes alive.

Talk n Text plays also-ran Meralco at 5:15 p.m. then B-Meg and Petron battle at 7:30 p.m.

Petron is half-a-game ahead of Talk n Text (5-5) at 6-5 but the Boosters face the same predicament as the Texters, needing to sweep their remaining games in the semis to have a shot at the finals.

B-Meg coach Tim Cone said they have a job cut out for them, knowing the Boosters will go flat-out to survive.

“It’s a big job for us to beat Petron,” said Cone.

“They’re a tough matchup for us, but we feel prepared for them this time around,” added Cone whose troops succumbed to the Boosters, 92-80, in their previous faceoff in the season-ending tourney.

James Yap could well add inspiration to his team as he returns to action after playing only 14 minutes in their last game due to back spasm.

“There’s still pain. But I’m playing. I’m a warrior,” Yap told The STAR.

“If we can get the win, it would be a huge win to follow up our Talk n Text victory,” Cone also said.

Marcus Blakely churned out a huge all-around performance, powering the Llamados to their come-from-behind three-point victory over Talk n Text Thursday at the MOA Arena.

Blakely delivered 26 points, 20 rebounds, five steals, four blocks and three assists as the Llamados overcame injuries to Yap and JC Intal to clinch the win.

“That was teamwork,” said Blakely trying to downplay the impact of his game.

“We had a lot of different aspects shown in the game. Our bench played well and helped a lot,” Blakely pointed out.

NOTES: Commissioner Chito Salud meted five league individuals fines totaling P8,000 for technical fouls committed in their recent games. Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao drew the largest fine of P4,000 for two technical infractions incurred in their game versus Meralco Sunday. Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes was slapped a fine of P2,400 for his latest technical foul – his third in the tourney. Others fined for technical infractions were Petron player Arwind Santos (P1,600, his second in the tourney), Ginebra assistant coach Art dela Cruz (P1,000), and Ginebra player Rico Villanueva (P1,000).