B-Meg edges Ginebra; Alaska routs Barako Bull by 20

B-Meg has shaken off the rust in just two games, and that’s definitely bad news for the others in the weeks to come.
“We got back to our comfort zone in this game,” coach Tim Cone said, moments after his Llamados played with complete command against Barangay Ginebra for a 96-88 decision last night in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the jampacked Araneta Coliseum.
Unlike in their tournament debut where they struggled big-time in the first half, the Llamados were on the dot right from the get-go and established leads of as many as 16 points late in the second quarter.
In rising to 1-1 and tying their victims, B-Meg thus left idle sister squad Petron Blaze and Rain or Shine as the only undefeated sides after Alaska hammered Barako Bull to near-submission in the first game.
The Aces, who looked like a lost lot in losing to the Elasto Painters in the inaugurals, were also back in their elements, breaking away in the third period to post a 104-84 rout of Barako Bull in the first game as both squads now tote 1-1 records.
Peter June Simon paced the Llamados with 21 points before being helped off the floor late in the game after twisting his right knee.
Import Marcus Blakely was a tireless bundle of energy for the Llamados as he finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
James Yap, the former two-time MVP, had 18 points and Yancy de Ocampo continued his resurgence by shooting 16 and grabbing eight rebounds, an effort that Cone did not miss praising.
“Yancy was really the key,” Cone said. “They didn’t have anyone to stop Yancy inside. He has really responded to the opportunity we are giving him by not just being a statue (in the middle) out there.” B-Meg won despite missing big men Marc Pingris and Joe de Vance for the second straight game because of different injuries.
“(Yancy is averaging) 16.5 points and that is great in an import conference,” Cone added. “He has definitely picked up the slack for Ping (Pingris) and Joe (De Vance).” Cedric Bozeman led the Gin Kings with 30 points, all but six coming in the second half as he led a gallant fightback in that stretch which the Llamados had an answer to.
Kerby Raymundo was the brightest local for Ginebra, shooting 20 points in his best game since transferring from Purefoods, now B-Meg, at the start of the year.
But coach Siot Tanquingcen of Ginebra kept sensational rookie Dylan Ababou in the freezer, saying it was his decision because he wanted to match up defensively with the Llamados.
No one was able to score in twin digits after Bozeman and Raymundo, with Mark Caguioa, the inspiration in Ginebra’s victory over Air21 last Wednesday, held down to just eight markers by the stingy B-Meg defense.
B-Meg’s guns were on target, as the Llamados dropped 27 second quarter points to take a 51-39 lead at the turn. And though the Kings came with three several times, the reigning Commissioner’s Cup champs played without letup.
Alaska won its first game under the watch of the youthful Luigi Trillo as import Jason Forte scored 29 points that went with 16 rebounds and LA Tenorio finished with a brilliant all-around effort of 21 points, six boards and six assists.
“It’s nice to get the monkey off (my) back,” Trillo, appointed in an interim capacity more than two weeks ago to replace the resigned Joel Banal, said. “The first win is the hardest for a coach.” It actually didn’t look that hard for the Aces, who pounded on the lethargic Energy in the third quarter before pulling away in the fourth for the most lopsided win thus far in the young tournament.
Gabby Espinas was also a bright spot for Trillo after the former NCAA MVP tossed in 18 points, had seven rebounds and helped contain Barako Bull import Jamine Peterson to a harmless 19 points.
Peterson, after shooting 33 and grabbing 22 rebounds in a victory over Powerade last Friday, had just 19 points this time.