Llamados rout Express

Jay R. Gotera
Saudi Gazette
 

MANILA — Wary of getting waylaid by an upset-conscious team, the B-Meg Llamados came out with all guns ablaze to drub the Air 21 Express, 91-78, Saturday night in a PBA Governors’ Cup road game in Digos City, Davao del Sur.
 

Do-it-all import Marqus Blakely led the way for the Llamados, scattering 21 points, eight rebounds and four blocks as B-Meg gained a share of the lead with idle Rain or Shine Elasto Painters with their fourth straight win against a single loss.
 

Their third straight loss sent Air21 falling into a four-way tie at the bottom of the standings in the company of the Meralco Bolts, Alaska Aces, and Talk N Text Tropang Texters, all with a 1-3 win-loss slate.
 

Josh Urbiztondo and James Yap also played solid games for the Llamados, chipping in 17 and16 points.
 

The Express threatened to reprise their 97-86 upset of Talk N Text last May 26 when they held the Llamados at bay in the second quarter which they took, 47-44.
 

But the Llamados clamped down on defense at the start of the second half as they regained the lead and started to break away.
 

As a result of the Llamados’ lockdown defense, none of the Air 21 locals scored in double figures.
 

Import Zach Graham led the Express with 39 points. But fatigue slowed down the Air21 workhorse in the fourth quarter as the Llamados broke the game wide open.
 

Meanwhile, Gary David extended his hot-shooting streak to 19 straight games as he dished out 30 points to lead the Powerade Tigers to a 104-98 trashing of the previously unbeaten Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the nightcap of Friday night’s twinbill at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
 

David thus matched the record set by Danny Seigle for the longest streak of games with at least 20 points.
 

The win improved the Tigers’ record to 3-2, boosting their chances to secure a playoff berth.
 

Powerade’s new import Omar Sneed collected 24 points and 20 rebounds. Since Sneed replaced NBA veteran Rashad McCants, Powerade has not lost in three games.
 

Import Jamelle Cornley led Rain or Shine with 31 points.