NBA vet Balkman stars as Petron rips San Mig

When Petron Blaze stepped on the gas, the San Mig Coffee Mixers were left eating the Boosters’ dust.

Immediately asserting its dominance, Petron Blaze cruised to a masterful 98-73 victory over listless San Mig Coffee Wednesday night to get back on track in the PBA Commissioners Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Smarting from a stinging 92-94 defeat inflicted by GlobalPort last Friday, Petron Blaze finally played true to its form throughout, with import Renaldo Balkman leading the way with 28 points, 18 coming in the middle quarters, plus 15 rebounds and five assists.

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“It was good bounce-back win for us after that frustrating game against GlobalPort,” stated Petron Blaze coach Olsen Racela, who also gave special citation to his import.

“His (Balkman) energy, hustle, and intensity were the big factors that led to this win. That’s the reason why we got Balkman. Not so much for his scoring but the energy he brings to the team na nagagawa nya.”

Also coming up big for the Boosters were forward Jay Washington who finished with 17 markers and playmaker Alex Cabagnot who added 15.

Former two-time MVP James Yap tallied 18 of his team-high 25 points in the second half but limped out going to their bench, holding on to his right thigh with less than four minutes left.

San Mig Import Matt Rogers, who didn’t suit up in the Mixers’ 75-79 setback at the hands of Barako Bull last Friday due to stomach virus, scattered 20 points but was clearly outplayed by Balkman and the taller Petron Blaze frontline.

After the Mixers enjoyed an early 4-2 lead, the Boosters found the right gear and emphatically went on a tear, highlighted by a decisive 14-1 charge en route to a 20-14 cushion.

Far from done, Petron continued its onslaught in the second mainly behind the 6-foot-8 Balkman, who dropped 10 out of the team’s 28-point explosion.

The Boosters’ defense also came to the fore in that telling canto, limiting the Mixers to just eight markers that gave Petron a commanding 48-22 edge at the break.

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That horrendous first-half showing by San Mig Coffee equaled its franchise's third all-time lowest output in a half, according to a tweet by resident pro league statistician Fidel Mangonon III (‏@thepbaologist).

The closest San Mig Coffee could get was at 65-81 off a Yap triple with 3:57 remaining in the fourth, but the Mixers’ hopes were torn to shreds, no thanks to the Boosters’ 10 unanswered points that restored their lead to 26 points, putting the result beyond recall.

“Playing against San Mig, we have to have a big defensive effort. Sinasabi namin sa kanila (Boosters), depensa muna bago opensa,” noted Racela.

Earlier, Alaska gained a share of the lead with idle Barako Bull by holding off stubborn Meralco 85-81.

Fresh from a pulsating 83-81 victory over Rain or Shine last Saturday, the Aces relied on another solid outing from reinforcement Robert Dozier coupled with Tony Dela Cruz’s two pressure-packed freebies in the stretch to spoil the Bolts’ late-game charge.

The 6-foot-9 Dozier, a former draftee by the NBA’s Miami Heat in 2009, sizzled all game long with 27 points, 17 rebounds and six blocks while do-it-all rookie Calvin Abueva added 20 markers and Cyrus Baguio had 16 for the Aces, who improved to 2-0.

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Aside from center Sonny Thoss, who made life miserable for Meralco import Eric Dawson, Alaska should also give credit to Dela Cruz, who spared the Aces’ blushes with two free throws after the Bolts came within 81-83 off a Ronjay Buenafe’s back-to-back treys with 12.8 ticks to go.

The 6-foot-7 Thoss only had six markers, but stood out mainly because of his suffocating defense on Dawson, who was held down to just 15 points on 5-of-16 shooting–a far cry from his 37-point explosion in Meralco’s 99-92 stunner over Talk ‘N Text last Saturday.

“Dozier is coming to his own,” stated Alaska coach Luigi Trillo. "His versatility is just fun to watch. He does a great job composing himself and on focusing on the job. He's definitely staying with us."

“We also had to put focus on Dawson and credit goes to Sonny. He's been doing defense,” he said, before adding: “We knew they (Bolts) would come back and we’re lucky to hold on to this win.”

Rookie Vic Manuel scattered eight of his team-high 18 points in the fourth but committed a costly turnover in the waning moments, dooming the Bolts’ hopes. With the loss, Meralco dropped to 1-1 alongside GlobalPort.
 
 
The Scores:
 
First Game
 
ALASKA (85) – Dozier 27, Abueva 20, Baguio 16, Casio 8, Espinas 6, Thoss 6, Dela Cruz 2, Ramos 0, Jazul 0, Eman 0, Hontiveros 0, Belasco 0.

MERALCO (81) – Manuel 18, Dawson 15, Buenafe 14, Cardona 11, Ross 6, Hugnatan 5, Hodge 4, Artadi 4, Guevarra 2, Borboran 2, Timberlake 0, Reyes 0.
Quarters: 26-21, 47-39, 63-62, 85-81
 
Second Game

PETRON (98) – Balkman 28, Washington 17, Cabagnot 15, Lassiter 9, Fajardo 8, Miranda 8, Santos 7, Tubid 4, Faundo 2, Lanete 0, Pena 0.

SAN MIG COFFEE (73) – Yap 25, Rogers 20, Simon 8, Devance 7, Pingris 7, Najorda 3, Barroca 2, Mallari 1, Alvarez 0, Reavis 0, De Ocampo 0.
Quarters: 20-14, 48-22, 70-49, 98-73

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