Walker snatches win for Elite

Henry Walker struggled with his shots but found an open lane to execute a game-winning slam in the last 3.4 seconds as Blackwater kept its flickering playoff hopes with a tough 86-84 win over Magnolia in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Walker was 3-of-16 from the field before sneaking in with the deciding basket to cap his successive endgame brilliant plays that handed the Elite their first win in eight games in the midseason tourney.

The Hotshots blew an early 14-point spread and a four-point lead in the last 1:44 mark, and dropped to joint fifth with the Phoenix Fuel Masters at 3-3.

“What happened was almost the same play that we designed. It just happened a little earlier as they trapped John Pinto, and Walker found an opening in the middle,” said Bong Ramos, finally steering the Elite to victory in his fourth game as head coach of the Ever Bilena franchise.

“At least, the team is improving little by little. Every game, we have positive achievement. I keep telling the guys to continue to pound the rock, and eventually we would crack it,” Ramos also said.

June Mar Fajardo produced a career fourthbest 37 points that went with 18 rebounds while Alex Cabagnot churned out a career second triple-double job with 20 markers, 10 boards and the same number of assists as San Miguel Beer roared to a third straight win with a 129-117 drubbing of Columbian Dyip in the nightcap.

Renaldo Balkman and Arwind Santos also delivered big numbers as the Beermen tied the Magnolia Hotshots and the Phoenix Fuel Masters at fifth place at 3-3. Columbian dropped to 3-5.