Powerade Defeats Shopinas Clickers in the PBA

Powerade snapped a four-game losing streak with a much-needed 102-84 victory over Shopinas.com Friday in the 2011-12 PBA Philippine Cup at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Rookie Marcio Lassiter led the Tigers’ breakaway in the third period to help give Powerade a 4-7 win-loss mark, a full game advantage over Alaska (3-8).

Lassiter tallied an all-around performance with 21 points, six rebounds and eight assists, despite not finishing the game due to a bad cut on his right eye courtesy of the wayward elbow of the Clickers’ Ogie Menor.

Doug Kramer added 17 points while Gary David contributed 16 for the Tigers.

“We really have to thank God for helping us go through these struggles,” said Powerade head coach Bo Perasol. “It was difficult for us. We could have won two of those four games.”

“We still have a chance. We are still in the thick of things but we’ll be going through the eye of the needle.”

Shopinas has now registered the second-longest losing streak in league history with 12 straight setbacks, one short of tying two teams, Great Taste and Countryfair, for the infamous record.

Like most of their matches this tournament, the Clickers were in the game in the first half and even led, 34-31, on Elmer Espiritu’s jumper.

But the Tigers ended the half with a 19-9 exchange to carry a 50-43 lead at halftime.

Lassiter and Kramer then combined forces in the next 12 minutes to help Powerade erect an 84-64 lead.

The Clickers trimmed the gap to 91-77 on Pong Escobal’s jumper. But David drilled a three-pointer to start a 9-0 salvo that gave Powerade a 98-77 spread with 3:36 remaining in the game.

The Tigers can clinch a spot in the quarterfinal round if they sweep their last three games against Talk ‘N Text, Meralco, and Barako Bull.

“I just hope we get the confidence we need with this win,” said Perasol.

James Sena led Shopinas with 19 points and 11 rebounds while Espiritu, Escobal and Paolo Hubalde each had 12 points for the team of coach Franz Pumaren.

The scores:

POWERADE 102 – Lassiter 21, Kramer 17, David 16, Cruz 9, Antonio 9, Adducul 8, Casio 6, Crisano 6, Anthony 5, Vanlandingham 3, Lingganay 2, Martinez 0, Allera 0.

SHOPINAS.COM 84 – Sena 19, Espiritu 12, Escobal 12, Hubalde 12, Sison 7, Menor 5, Duncil 4, Daa 4, Ritualo 4, Jazul 2, Se 2, Canta 1, Bagatsing 0, Aquino 0.

Quarterscores: 28-28, 50-43, 84-64,102-84

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