Rookie Casio tows Powerade to PBA Philippine Cup Finals

(Update 2 11:54 p.m.) Powerade kept its improbable run in the 37th PBA Philippine Cup going after escaping with a 107-98 win over Rain or Shine in their winner-take-all match Wednesday night in front of a sellout 13,000 crowd at the Astrodome. The Tigers won the best-of-seven semifinals series, 4-3, to earn a return trip to the Finals since the 2003 Reinforced Conference where the Coca-Cola franchise—then handled by Talk 'N Text coach Chot Reyes—defeated San Miguel Beer in the seven-game title series. Powerade's version of the Big Three came up big when it mattered most as veteran Gary David teamed up with rookies Jvee Casio and Marcio Lassiter combined for 66 points to put the Tigers back in the best-of-seven Finals in the All-Filipino Conference. Casio, the top pick in the 2011 Rookie Draft, shot 5-of-7 from the three-point range to finish with 25 points, seven rebounds and five assists. David added 24 markers while Lassiter, the fourth selection, had 17. Three others finished in double figures for the Tigers, who entered the playoffs of the All-Filipino Conference as the eighth-seeded team. They stunned top ranked B-MEG Llamados in the quarterfinals. Powerade also became the lowest-ranked team to enter the championship round. Tigers coach Bo Perasol said they are cherishing their return to the Finals after a nine-year absence with Casio, who played the biggest game of his young professional career, winning his match-up with Rain or Shine rookie Paul Lee, the No. 2 overall pick. "I know in my heart that Jvee was the right choice for us," said Powerade coach Bo Perasol, seeing action in his second Finals stints since 2008. "He's the right fit for Gary. Paul Lee is an amazing player and being chosen as No. 2 doesn’t make him a lesser man." Lee was held to four points in the first half to finish with 14 points on 3-of-7 shooting. It was Casio, the former La Salle playmaker, who kept the Tigers afloat in the midst of the Elasto Painters' mini rally from a 21-point deficit. Casio's completed three-point play stalled Rain or Shine’s momentum after the Painters trimmed an 84-63 deficit to just eight in the final period. Rommel Adducul followed up his own miss with a put back to give Powerade a 103-90 lead with three minutes and 29 seconds left to play. "It's our time. I think the key here was getting the people to win it for us. We have players that are winners in their hearts," said Perasol. The Tigers, after posting a 22-18 lead in one quarter, pulled away in the second where they enjoyed a 52-39 spread at the turn. But just when Powerade seemed to be cruising toward victory, Rain or Shine made one final push with Ronnie Matias' putback moving the Elasto Painters within seven, 105-98, with 63 seconds left in the game. Time, however, was on Powerade's side as the Tigers milked the clock to seal the win. JR Quiñahan finished with 16 points to pace the Elasto Painters. — JVP, GMA News