B-MEG wallops Rain or Shine to force do-or-die Game Seven

PBA/Nuki Sabio

The B-MEG Llamados used a total team effort to win its second straight elimination game, defeating Rain or Shine, 97-81, in Game Six of the Governors’ Cup finals Friday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

James Yap once again led the charge for B-MEG, top-scoring with 20 points and nine rebounds, but got ample support from his teammates in the rout. Marqus Blakely posted 19 points and 15 rebounds, outplaying his counterpart Jamelle Cornley, while Peter June Simon added 16 and eight. Jonas Villanueva chipped in 11 points.

The Llamados defense limited Cornley to just 14 points and held the Elasto Painters to just 38 percent shooting. Rain or Shine shot just 18 percent from beyond the arc, with sharpshooter Jeff Chan going 1-of-9 from the three-point line.

B-MEG forced a do-or-die Game Seven on Sunday, also at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Rain or Shine was still in striking distance early in the fourth quarter after a TY Tang three-pointer cut the B-MEG lead to just seven points, 70-63. But a turnaround, buzzer-beating three-pointer by Simon in the ensuing possession triggered a 14-2 run that put the game away, 84-65.

The Llamados led by as much as 24 points late in the game after back-to-back three-pointers by Yap, who has had a marvelous series, averaging 21 points in the finals coming into the game.

The scores:

B-MEG 97 – Yap 20, Blakely 19, Simon 16, Villanueva 11, Barroca 8, De Ocampo 8, Urbiztondo 7, Reavis 6, Pingris 2, Gaco 0, Burtscher 0.

Rain or Shine 81 – Cornley 14, Tang 13, Norwood 12, Quinahan 9, Chan 7, Buenafe 7, Ibanes 7, Belga 6, Arana 4, Cruz 2.

Quarters: 19-13, 42-30, 65-56, 97-81

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