Omar Sneed stepped up for Powerade on a night when Gary David's amazing streak ended as the Tigers escaped with an 86-83 victory over Barangay Ginebra on Friday night in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Coliseum.
David finished with 16 points, four shy of extending his streak of 20 points or more to 20 games but enough to help the Tigers get their fourth victory in six games.
Sneed, the league’s oldest import at 36, delivered when it mattered anew as he scored 10 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, all but one in the last four minutes.
“Gary was defended really well, but Omar was there to save the day for us,” Powerade coach Bo Perasol said.
The Kings' defense put its focus on David, who came in averaging an import-like 28.5 points per game.
“We really wanted him to get that streak,” Perasol said. “But for him it wasn’t important to get that streak as long as the team won.”
Rey Guevarra and Jvee Casio provided enough support, adding 13 and 10 points, respectively, for Powerade. Even Lordy Tugade contributed at the clutch as he scored four points in the fourth, including a layup that made it 83-79 with one minute and 35 seconds left.
“I don’t think we could’ve beaten Ginebra if we didn’t play as a unit,” Perasol said.
The Kings actually led, 23-9, at the end of the first quarter, before the Tigers roared back.
“We really started flat,” Perasol said. “We wanted to take Ginebra out of its flow early, but it backfired.”
Import Cedric Bozeman finished with a fine all-around game adorned with 23 points, seven assists, and six boards to lead the Kings in a losing effort.
Kerby Raymundo scored all of his eight points in the fourth, including a fadeaway jumper with 10.7 seconds left to put his team within one, 85-83.
The scores:
POWERADE 86 - Sneed 27, David 16, Guevarra 13, Casio 10, Salvador 6, Lingganay 4, Anthony 4, Tugade 4, Al-Hussaini 2, Vanlandingham 0, Allera 0, Antonio 0
GINEBRA 83 - Bozeman 23, Caguioa 12, Maliksi 9, Ababou 9, Maierhofer 8, Raymundo 8, Canaleta 5, Villanueva 4, Hatfield 3, Cortez 2, Helterbrand 0
Quarterscores: 9-23, 38-41, 64-63, 86-83
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