Sunday, December 02, 2007 Tigers growl, settle score
LUCENA CITY - The Coca-Cola Tigers at last growled last night and got even with the Sta. Lucia Realtors, 94-79, to put an end to a long 8-game losing streak in the 2007 Smart-PBA Philippine Cup before a huge crowd at the Quezon Convention Center here.
The 6-foot-9 Asi Taulava, acquired from Talk ‘N Text in a trade involving Ali Peek only last week, displayed another monstrous performance that practically showed how he transformed the Tigers into one of the contending teams in the All-Filipino conference today.
Taulava, a Fil-Tongan who spearheaded the RP national squad campaign in the 2007 Fiba-Asia championship last August, finished with 26 points on top of 24 big rebounds and five assists to lead the Tigers’ only second win in 10 matches.
It was also a fitting revenge for the Tigers against the Realtors, who defeated them, 97-63, in the first round of the elimination on Nov. 14.
“At least the effort of Asi (Taulava) paid-off this time,” said Coca-Cola coach Benky Favis referring to Taulava’s 33 points and 17 rebounds in his debut with the Tigers against Alaska, 106-117, on Nov. 28.
Their first victory was against the Welcoat Dragons, 85-76, on Oct. 19.
Coca-Cola, which is in its longest losing streak in franchise history, jumped to an early 14-8 upperhand behind Mark Isip and Ronjay Buenafe’s refined marksmanship only seven minutes gone in the match.
Buenafe, the 6-foot guard from Emilio Aguilando College and was picked 11th overall in the 2007 rookie draft, connected a triple to establish the Tigers’ first biggest lead, 19-8, still 3:19 remaining in the first period.
But after Sta. Lucia’s Nelbert Omolon scored two straight baskets, Aries Dimaunahan, acquired by Coca-Cola from Purefoods only this month, retaliated with two successive baskets that started a fiery 11-3 run to put the Tigers on top by 13 points, 30-17, at the close of the first canto. (FCC)
