Tigers' double-double feat cripples Painters

Asi Taulava, Alex Cabagnot and Mark Telan all dished out double-double efforts and the whole Coca-Cola team worked on a resolute defense to repeat over Rain or Shine, 84-73, in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup elimination round at the Astrodome last night.

Taulava put in 16 points and 10 rebounds, Cabagnot tallied 15 points and 11 assists while Telan piled up 11 points and the same number of rebounds as Coca-Cola notched a second straight win to improve its win-loss record to 5-7, now a game and a half clear of tail-ender Red Bull (3-8).

Rain or Shine slid to fifth place with a 6-6 card while limited to its lowest output in the season. The Elasto Painters averaged 96 points per game setting out for the contest.

“Defense did it again for us,” said interim Coca-Cola coach Kenneth Duremdes.

“Asi and Mark (Telan) have been always there for us. They’re very consistent. Alex helped out, showing great composure at endgame,” Duremdes also said, making special mention of the three players who anchored the team to a repeat win over the Elasto Painters whom they dealt a 112-96 defeat in their previous tiff.

Taulava went 7-of-12 from the field and two-of-four from the stripe and grabbed five rebounds on each board for his sixth double-double game in the season. Only Sta. Lucia’s Kelly Williams and Air21’s Ranidel de Ocampo have more double-double showings with seven each.

The contest marked only the second time in the tourney where three teammates churned out double-double numbers each in a game. Taulava, Cabagnot and Telan also achieved the previous feat in the season opener against Talk n Text.

Cabagnot had a solid game also laced with six rebounds and two steals despite a slight hamstring injury. Curiously, he drew the ire of the Elasto Painters when he scored a three-pointer in the dying seconds with the game long settled.

Ronjay Buenafe put in a significant help, knocking down two triples in a decisive run as the Tigers breoke free from a 64-all deadlock.

The Elasto Painters charged back at 73-76 on an eight-point binge by Jireh Ybanes and Sol Mercado, but the Tigers pulled away again at 81-73 entering the final minute on a short stab by Taulava off Mark Isip followed by a triple from Nic Belasco.

In the nightcap, Enrico Villanueva scored on a left-handed shot underneath on an assist by Kerby Raymundo in the dying seconds as Purefoods squeaked past San Miguel Beer, 84-83, for its sixth win in 13 outings.

“We’ve been struggling and a win like this is definitely a welcome development. This is one big push towards our goal of still making it to the top,” said Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio.