PBA Selection rallies past Sharks

The PBA Selection solved the giant riddle that was Zhang Zhaoxu in the nick of time, rallying past the Shanghai Sharks, 80-71, in the concluding match of the Philippines-China Friendship Games at the Araneta Coliseum.

Playing before a sparse crowd, the PBA stars of Coach Franz Pumaren relied on timely triples and crisp passing to break the Sharks’ zone defense in the fourth period, while also frustrating Zhang with quick double teaming and rugged fouls.

Zhang, the Sharks’ seven-foot center, imposed his will in the paint for most of the game and finished with a game-high 23 points and 14 rebounds, including two free throws that gave the visitors a 63-55 spread with 7:35 left in the fourth

RELATED: Yao's Shanghai Sharks bow to Gilas Pilipinas

But the All-Stars, behind Arwind Santos, Paul Lee, Beau Belga and KG Canaleta, dropped a 19-8 bomb capped by a Canaleta triple that pushed them ahead 74-71, time down to 1:36. After Zhang Yuan’s triple try rimmed out, Belga and Lee iced the game with six unanswered points, sending the Sharks home winless in their two exhibition games here.

With no Marcus Douthit or June Mar Fajardo to bother him this time around, Zhang had his way against overmatched defenders Belga, Doug Kramer and JayR Reyes through most of the first three quarters, scattering nine points in the third as the Sharks established the biggest lead of the game at 49-40.

Back-to-back triples by Canaleta sparked a 13-3 PBA run capped by a Santos fastbreak lay-up that restored the lead to the All-Stars at 53-52 with 1:29 left in the third, but the Sharks countered with an 11-2 run bridging the third and fourth periods to surge ahead again, 63-55.

RELATED: Sorry, but Yao won't be playing

Belga’s rough defense held Zhang to only four free throws the rest of the way, though, as the PBA Selection rallied for the win. The burly Rain or Shine center was named Best Player of the Game by the TV panel after finishing with 16 points and nine rebounds. Santos added 15, while Lee and Canaleta chipped in nine apiece.

The Sharks were again without ace point guard Liu Wei, who showed up in game attire but was not fielded in by coach Wang Qun. Sharks owner Yao Ming was also nowhere to be found, as he reportedly flew back to Shanghai early Tuesday morning to the disappointment of the fans who were hoping to catch a glimpse of the former NBA All-Star.

PBA Selection individual scores:

80 – Belga 16, Santos 15, Canaleta 9, Lee 9, Kramer 8, Cortez 7, Tiu 7, Miller 2, Hodge 2, Cabagnot 0.

Quarterscores: 11-17, 36-38, 55-59, 80-71

SLIDESHOW OF THE GAME: