PBA Semis: Lassiter steps up to help Powerade tied Series

Lassiter (30 points), David (32)

         The Tigers managed to protect their lead when the Elasto Painters threatened with another run and held on for a 121-113 win in Game Two of their best-of-seven semifinal series in the 2011-12 PBA Philippine Cup Friday night at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

        Powerade indeed learned its lesson from its Game One downfall to Rain or Shine. Two days after blowing a double-digit halftime lead, Powerade came out with more focus and with a better offensive game from almost everybody to tie the series and make it a best-of-five affair. Gary David hit 32 points, his fourth straight game with 30 or more points, while rookie Marcio Lassiter bounced back from a two-point performance in Game One and netted a career-high 30 points to lead the assault of Powerade. Sean Anthony added 11 points, 15 rebounds and six assists and had a key block on Larry Rodriguez in the dying seconds of the game for Powerade. “I don’t think we have done something significant aside from equalizing the series,” said Tigers head coach Bo Perasol, whose wards dropped the series opener, 114-97.

       “I just told the guys and made them understand about our chances of making the finals that it does not come every time.” Lassiter, who shot 1-of-7 from the field in Game One, unloaded 15 points in the third period when the Tigers turned a three-point deficit into a 91-79 lead going into the final quarter. Then David, who was held to just nine points in the first half, joined the scoring spree, helping Powerade erect a 102-86 spread with 9:07 remaining. The Tigers were still comfortably ahead at 109-97 when Ronjay Buenafe engineered a 15-8 exchange to close the gap to 117-112 with 1:21 left in the contest. Rain or Shine had a chance to move closer but Larry Rodriguez’s undergoal attempt was swatted by Anthony. Rain or Shine was forced to foul JVee Casio, who hit two free throws that sealed the win for Powerade. Buenafe led the Elasto Painters with 25 points while Paul Lee and Rodriguez chipped in 23 and 20 points respectively. After scoring 27 points in Game One, Jeff Chan was held scoreless on 0-of-4 shooting in 21 forgettable minutes for Rain or Shine. (Source: Interaktv.ph)

The scores:

POWERADE 121 – David 32, Lassiter 30, Anthony 11, Kramer 11, Casio 10, Cruz 9, Adducul 7, Lingganay 3, Vanlandingham 3, Antonio 3, Crisano 2.

RAIN OR SHINE 113 – Buenafe 25, Lee 23, Rodriguez 20, Matias 13, Belga 11, Norwood 8, Arana 7, Tang 4, Cruz 2, Chan 0, Ibanes 0.

Quarters: 28-34, 57-58, 91-79, 121-113