CEBU CITY - The Petron Blaze Boosters stayed unbeaten as they routed host team M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Ninos, 94-68, on Friday night in the 2013 Sinulog Cup at the Cebu Coliseum.
The win allowed the Boosters to lead the pocket four-team tournament after opening their campaign with an 90-83 win over sister team Ginebra on Thursday night.
Former New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets forward Renaldo Balkman was once again impressive for Petron as he paced the winners with 23 points, a day after scoring 28 against the Gin Kings.
Balkman also got plenty of help from guard Alex Cabagnot who got 14 points, while Cebuano big man June Mar Fajardo had 11 points in his old stomping grounds. Fellow big man Dorian Pena chipped in 10 markers.
The Ninos actually held a 24-22 lead after the first quarter but the Boosters asserted their height and heft advantage and zoomed off to a 54-44 lead, early in the third.
Petron likewise tightened up their defense, so much so that M. Lhuillier's star big man, Ben Mbala, was held to just five points the entire second half after scoring 12 in the first.
The Boosters established their largest lead of 21 points, 83-62, with seven minutes left in the game.
The Ninos, on the other hand, crashed to their second straight loss after they were bested by the Alaska Aces, 81-83, in their first game. Mbala finished with 17 points while Abby Santos had 12.
The scores:
Petron (94) - Balkman 23, Cabagnot 14, Fajardo 11, Peña 10, Washington 8, Lanete 6, Lutz 6, Miranda 6, Tubid 6, Santos 2, Faundo 2
M. Lhuillier-Cebu Ninos (68) –Mbala 17, Santos 12, Magsumbol 7, Rodriguez 7, Saguindel 6, Saladaga 5, Heruela 4, Armecin 4
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