Playing without import James Penny from the final 5:08, Coca-Cola got the goods from its under-rated locals in a 79-76 victory, which gave the Tigers a piece of the PBA  Fiesta Conference lead at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

Penny, arguably the finest all-around import in the field, stepped out of the court because of a busted forehead and the Tigers trailing by two.

But instead of folding up and rolling over, the Tigers fought hard behind Gary David, Asi Taulava and Mark Macapagal as Coca-Cola bounced back from their only loss of the tournament to deal the Llamados the first blemish in their record.

At 4-1, Coca-Cola thus zoomed to a share of the early lead with idle San Miguel, while the Llamados are now at 2-1.

David, who was acquired near the end of the Philippine Cup from Air21/Burger King, hit some electrifying lay-ups that ushered the Tigers to the lead, and Taulava helped preserve it with two timely short stabs, the last with 65 seconds remaining for 76-72.

“It was a character-defining game for us,” said Coca-Cola coach Bo Perasol. “Although we lost James (Penny), I think the energy and determination of the players bailed us out. Everybody contributed in their own little way.

“The challenge for us right now is to carry on playing this way,” added Perasol, one of the most brilliant young minds in the league today.

Penny left the court after getting a hard hit from a wayward elbow by counterpart Lorenzo Wade, a cut that needed three stitches to close.

The gash was so big that Penny had to be taken to the Coca-Cola locker room for stitches. He never got his wish to return to the floor. But he surely wouldn’t have mind afterwards, especially after learning that the local held the fort for him.

Interestingly, no calls were made during that play, and the Tigers were even slapped a technical foul for protesting the non-call.

Bad thing for the Tigers, though, is that Penny is now listed as doubtful for their game tomorrow against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

It was actually the second gash that Penny received in the rugged game, after the do-it-all import also suffered a cut above his lip after receiving a hard Paul Artadi foul.

Still, Penny, a champion import when he first saw action in the Philippines for Red Bull earlier in the decade, finished with 20 points and 18 rebounds.

“They saw blood, we kind of relaxed and it spelled doom for us,” said Derby Ace coach Ryan Gregorio said of his players. Derby Ace played its third straight game without Kerby Raymundo.

Coca-Cola also almost blew what it worked so hard for by missing four free throws down the stretch, allowing the Llamados to come within 78-76 after three-pointer by KG Canaleta with a shade under 20 seconds remaining.

David, who wound up with 18 points, had a split and Macapagal connected on a basket before Taulava scored down low against Raffi Reavies to make it 68-65.

Roger Yap then tied the game for the last time with a three-point shot, but David came through with two reverse lay-ups on the break, shots that will be in the highlight reels of the week.

Macapagal had a basket from the outside, and Asi had a tear-drop shot against two free throws by Wade as Coca-Cola took a 76-70 lead with 1:06 to go.