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Blaze Boosters end slide as Mbenga struggles

Chris Lutz loses the ball against a Barako double team. (Nuki Sabio/PBA Images)

Petron Blaze achieved two immediate goals against Barako Bull Sunday night.

With ace playmaker Alex Cabagnot doing what he does best, the Boosters snapped an alarming three-game slide with a badly-needed 88-77 victory,  while at the same time formalizing their entry to the quarterfinals of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The lefty Cabagnot dished out a solid outing of 24 points, including four big triples, plus seven assists and four rebounds while helping Petron Blaze set the tone early on.

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The victory enables the Boosters to bounce back from a 92-102 defeat inflicted by the Eric Dawson-led Meralco Bolts last Friday while allowing them to occupy solo third with a 7-5 record, just a game behind second-running Rain or Shine (8-4).

The Energy Cola, who got off to a slow start and faded in the stretch, drop to ninth place with a 4-8 mark, and are on the verge of missing the playoffs.

Import Henry Sims, playing just his second game after replacing the ineffective Rodney White, backstopped Cabagnot with 23 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks while Marcio Lassiter contributed 14 markers and Arwind Santos added 11 points and eight rebounds for the Boosters.

Barako Bull, which just stopped a six-game losing skid via a 105-100 win over defending champion San Mig Coffee last March 31, got a lackluster debut from two-time NBA champion DJ Mbenga.

Visibly out of shape, the 7-foot Belgian-Congolese import struggled with just 14 markers and 12 rebounds in a foul-plagued 36 minutes of play.
 
MVP: Alex Cabagnot. Finding his rhythm early on, the former University of Hawaii-Hilo standout drilled in three booming triples in the Boosters’ strong 12-to-nothing start.

When the Energy Cola moved to within five in the third, Cabagnot took a backseat offensively and concentrated on setting up the table, whipping crisp pass after another to Santos in the lane, helping them to restore their lead at 67-52.

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Capping his offensive renaissance was an off-balanced floater that managed to trickle in, putting the result beyond doubt with a considerable 84-68 edge, time down to just 3:46.
 
X-Factor: Marcio Lassiter. Arguably the team’s most consistent offensive weapon with a 16.6 point-average in the last five games, the scrappy 6-foot-2 shooting guard continued his scoring ways while putting the clamps on Barako Bull starting guard Josh Urbiztondo. While scattering 14 markers and four assists, Lassiter also made life miserable for Urbiztondo, holding him down to just five on a rough 1-of-9 shooting from the field. The former Smart Gilas standout also played a key role in the Boosters’ decisive 11-2 run in the stretch, racking up five that gave them a big 84-68 cushion.
 
Game Turning Point: After starting on a big tear, Petron Blaze still struggled to pull away from the stubborn Barako Bull until a 10-to-nothing run in the third that put the Boosters in control with a 67-52 edge.

When Barako Bull pulled within seven off Danny Seigle’s free throws, Petron Blaze employed a full-court trapping defense, forcing turnover after another while attacking the paint at will during a blinding 11-2 barrage for a comfortable 16-point edge in the stretch.
 
Quotable Quotes: “We just have that sense of urgency tonight and we played aggressive throughout,” said Cabagnot.

"Malaking adjustment, kahit sinong import ang ipalit kay (Renaldo) Balkman. Mahirap palitan ang energy na dinadala ni Balkman. But Henry Sims gives us different dimensions. When we were scouting Henry, we saw he is very good defender and he also brings energy to the team,” stated Petron coach Olsen Racela.

“Our concentration was on the defensive end and to give up just 77 points to Barako, a known offensive-minded team, is an accomplishment,” he added.

Scores:

PETRON BLAZE (88) – Sims 23, Cabagnot 20, Lassiter 14, Santos 11, Fajardo 6, Lutz 6, Miranda 6, Washington 2, Sison 0, Faundo 0, Lanete 0, Pena 0.

BARAKO BULL (77) – Mbenga 14, Maliksi 13, Anthony 11, Pennisi 11, Monfort 8, Seigle 8, Urbiztondo 5, Macapagal 3, Duncil 2, Intal 2, Kramer 0.
Quarterscores: 22-17, 40-38, 67-55, 88-77

SLIDESHOW OF THE GAME: