Petron ends slide by beating Barangay Ginebra 98-95

There were no fourth quarter collapses for Petron Blaze this time.
The Boosters put an end to a two-game slide last night by nipping sister squad Barangay Ginebra, 98-95, in the PBA Philippine Cup before a boisterous Mall of Asia Arena crowd.
And the Boosters’ second win in five games came after they had lost a nine-point fourth quarter lead, needing to hold the Gin Kings scoreless in the final 1:41 to eventually deal Ginebra a third straight loss in a similar 2-3 card.
“We really needed this win, especially after that loss to Alaska where we threw away a 14-point (fourth quarter) lead,” coach Olsen Racela, who shares game time coaching chores with Serbian Rajko Toroman, said.
“The other guys helping out was the key for us.” Alex Cabagnot capped a 25-point night with a free throw with 8.4 seconds remaining, making up for two big misses and a turnover in the stretch that actually allowed the Kings to gain a shot at winning.
Arwind Santos scattered 22 points that went with 17 big rebounds, sustaining his consistency for the Boosters, whose only other victory came against lightweight Barako Bull.
“Arwind has been the most consistent player for us, but he got a lot of help tonight with Alex (Cabagnot) making up for a bad game the last time out,” Racela said.
Cabagnot also had eight assists and the duo got ample support from Chris Lutz and Joseph Yeo, who actually snapped the game’s last tie at 95 by hitting a left-handed layup to finish a 1-on-2 break.
LA Tenorio had a crucial error in the potential game-tying play for the Kings with the score at 97-95, throwing a strong pass way out of reach of Willie Wilson for a turnover that resulted in that Cabagnot free throw off a Tenorio foul.
Ginebra is in a tailspin after winning its first two games of the season.
Tenorio did finish with 15 points, seven assists and six rebounds with Kerby Raymundo adding 14 points and 10 boards for Ginebra.
But Raymundo was not on the floor in the endgame, with coach Siot Tanquingcen opting for Wilson at the power forward spot even though Raymundo was playing consistently on offense.
Caguioa scored 12 of his total in the fourth period, with his last basket coming at the final two-minute mark before Wilson capped a huge run by the Kings for that 95-all tie.
The Kings put the ball in Caguioa’s hands after that Cabagnot free throw, but Caguioa put up a three-pointer that was a tad hard to doom Ginebra to its third straight defeat.
Meanwhile, Sol Mercado scored 24 points and Mac Cardona added 18 in an 85-72 Meralco victory over Air21 in the first game that put the Bolts at 3-2.
Air21 was held to the lowest point production by any team in the young tournament, as the Bolts played no-nonsense defense all game.
Only one player from Air21, John Wilson, was able to score in double figures with 16. The Express also lost a third straight game and are now at 1-4, in the company of newcomer Globalport at the bottom of the 10-team field.