Comes now the wolf pack
WALKER TOWS ELITE TO AMAZING WIN NO. 6
Games Wednesday (Cuneta Astrodome) 4:30 p.m. – NLEX vs Phoenix Petroleum 7 p.m. – Blackwater vs Magnolia
Blackwater never ceased to amaze as it stayed as among the top performers in the PBA Governors Cup – a giant turnaround from its tag as a doormat – that import Henry Walker attributed to “a change in culture.”
“We’re now a wolf pack. We play together, we win together, we lose together,” said Walker after the Elite nailed win No. 6 on a 99-93 drubbing of Rain or Shine in the PBA Governors Cup at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Arena in Sta. Rosa, Laguna last night.
“We’re moving the ball. We’re taking full advantage of playing to the best of our abilities. I trust my teammates and that makes things easier for me,” said Walker of the key in their big improvement from a being the tail-ender with a woeful 1-10 win-loss record in the Commissioner’s Cup.
Walker came through with a triple double-game with 14 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists while John Pinto went 6-of-6 from the field, including a dagger trey in the last 15.4 seconds as the Elite solidified their position in the race for the Top Four with a 6-1 win-loss record.
Mike Digregorio fired 17 points, Allein Maliksi rifled in 13 while Paul Zamar put in 11 to help Blackwater send the slumping Rain or Shine team to a fourth straight loss.
But Pinto played the fireman’s role in draining two three-pointers and a charity while the E-Painters were making a last-ditch effort to salvage the game.
The E-Painters had come to within a basket at 92-94 when Pinto knocked in a trey right in front of their bench to make it 97-92 with time down to 15.4 seconds.
But Pinto pointed to Walker as the catalyst in their emergence as a contender.
“He’s the one pushing us all. He’s the reason why we got here. He’s the one setting the tone. We just follow the example he sets,” said Pinto.
Barangay Ginebra, led by Justin Brownlee and Japeth Aguilar, fired almost at will in the fourth quarter and thwarted Meralco, 111-105, to stay in the lead at 7-1 later in the night.
Brownlee and Aguilar tossed in 31 points apiece as the Kings kept their supremacy over the Bolts, and handed Meralco a fifth loss against a lone win. The scores: First Game Blackwater 99 – Digregorio 17, Pinto 16, Walker 14, Maliksi 13, Zamar 11, Jose 8, Belo 6, Sena 5, Javier 4, Sumang 3, Erram 2, Cortez 0.
Rain or Shine 93 – Ahanmisi 25, Watson 17, Daquioag 15, Ponferada 9, Torres 8, Belga 7, Borboran 5, Nambatac 4, Norwood 3, Washington 0, Tiu 0, Casino 0, Onwubere 0. Quarterscores: 27-30, 47-39, 73-64, 99-93 Second Game Ginebra 111 – Aguilar 31, Brownlee 31, Tenorio 18, Caperal 8, Thompson 8, Chan 6, Ferrer 4, Mariano 3, Caguioa 2.
Meralco 105 – Durham 36, Newsome 25, Salva 11, Canaleta 11, Hodge 10, Amer 6, Hugnatan 2, Bono 2, Caram 2, Lanete 0, Jamito 0, Tolomia 0.
Quarterscores: 23-24, 46-48, 75-72, 111-105