PBA: Petron notches first win, avoids 0-3 hole

(updated 9:13pm) The Petron Blaze Boosters played true to their potential and caught a big fish in the B-MEG Llamados, beating them 84-77, for the team’s breakthrough win in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Sunday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.   Getting balanced scoring from their vaunted locals, the Boosters led from start to finish and never gave the previously unbeaten Llamados the chance to get on-track as they finally stop the bleeding after losing their first two outings in the import-reinforced tournament.   Import Nick Fazekas once again led the Boosters, this time with 23 points, but Joseph Yeo, Alex Cabagnot, Denok Miranda, and Arwind Santos took some of the scoring burden off his shoulders, by combining for 51 points.   Yeo led all Petron locals with 15 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Santos, finally getting an amount of touches reminiscent of the numbers he received in the All-Filipino Cup, was back to his usual double-double output of 10 points and 13 rebounds.   “Confidence booster para sa amin ito, especially B-Meg pa `yung tinalo namin,” said Yeo.    Petron coach Ato Agustin attributed the win to the adjustments the team made prior to the game.   “Maganda ang suporta ng mga locals, maganda ang distribution ng points ngayon, may movement na,” he said.   B-Meg suffered its first defeat after winning its first two outings, and fell into a tie for the lead with idle Alaska.   The Boosters jumped off to a 29-16 lead as the Llamados got off to a slow start. Later on, a three-pointer by Yeo pushed the advantage to 64-45, late in the third period.   The Llamados, led by two-time MVP James Yap, managed to rally back and threatened several times entering the homestretch, the last at 81-75 on a driving basket by Joe Devance with 1:18 remaining.   But two straight Petron free throws clinched it for the Boosters, 83-75, 36 seconds left.   Denzel Bowles, the B-Meg import, led the team with 22 points, while James Yap finished with 16. - AMD, GMA News     The scores   Petron (84) --  Fazekas 23, Yeo 15, Cabagnot 14, Miranda 12, Santos 10, Guevarra 6, Agustin 2, Ildefonso 2, Sharma 0, Tugade 0.   B-Meg (77) -- Bowles 22, J. Yap 16, Simon 12, Devance 9, Pingris 7, Barroca 4, R. Yap 3, Intal 2, Reavis 2, Urbiztondo 0, De Ocampo 0.   Quarterscores: 29-16, 45-36, 66-56, 84-77