Old hands carry Masters past Dragons

Veterans Olsen Racela and Danny Ildefonso stepped up as injury-plagued Magnolia withstood the young Welcoat team’s fightback for a 94-86 victory in the Smart PBA Fiesta Cup at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

Racela scored a personal season-high 20 points while Ildefonso had a solid all-round game with 10 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two shot blocks as the Beverage Masters got even with the Dragons in the double-round eliminations.

“Olsen came out really well and Danny I. was also there to help. Their performance speaks well of things they can still do,” said Magnolia coach Siot Tanquingcen on Racela and Ildefonso’s sterling games.

Coming out of their 101-108 defeat in their previous match, the Beverage Masters bolted out of a three-way logjam with the Sta. Lucia Realtors and the Alaska Milk Aces at fifth place to catch with the Talk n Text Phone Pals at fourth at 7-6.

The Dragons, meanwhile, matched the longest losing skein in the tournament with five, moving deeper down the cellar with a 3-10 card – a game and a half behind the struggling Barangay Ginebra Kings (4-8).

Jameel Watkins and Lordy Tugade had significant contributions as the Beverage Masters went on a two-game run in the absence of key players Danny Seigle and Dondon Hontiveros.

“Somehow, it’s good for the team because we’re making a run minus Danny S and Dondon. It’s a confidence-booster for our reserves. The likes of Chester Tolomia and Jonas Villanueva are having  extended minutes and they’re responding well,” said Tanquingcen.

Tugade fired 19 points, including two triples in the first quarter making him only the 13th player in PBA history to have made at least 500 in career after Allan Caidic, Ronnie Magsanoc, Al Solis, Robert Jaworski, Boybits Victoria, Noy Castillo, Kenneth Duremdes, Renren Ritualo and Dondon Hontiveros.

Ildefonso’s three offensive rebounds, meanwhile, pushed him three shy of becoming the 21st player to accumulate at least 5,000 points, 2,000 defensive rebounds and 1,000 offensive rebounds.

Ildefonso and Racela struck hard in the payoff period as Magnolia broke away from from a tight contest marked by 13 deadlocks and 15 lead changes.

Racela strung up seven straight points, capping a 13-4 blitz that gave the Beverage Masters the momentum for the breakaway from a shaky 72-71 edge.

The Dragons actually rallied to within five, 80-85, but Ildefonso took charge, scoring four of Magnolia’s next six points, including a twinner on a power play against Jay-R Reyes at the post.