It was the turn of Petron Blaze to withstand a late game run by Talk ‘N Text.

Danny Ildefonso buried an important jumper from deep in the left corner that gave the Boosters the breathing space they needed to preserve a 91-89 win in Game Two of their best-of-seven semifinal series against the Tropang Texters in the 2011-12 PBA Philippine Cup Saturday night at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Ildefonso’s basket with 14.8 seconds left in the game came after the Tropang Texters unloaded a 10-1 blast to threaten cut the lead to a single point, 87-86.

Petron Blaze leaned on big shots from Alex Cabagnot and Dennis Miranda in the fourth quarter to beat Meralco, 91-84, and take Game One of their best-of-three quarterfinal series in the 2011-12 PBA Philippine Cup Friday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Cabagnot had two straight four-point plays while Miranda hit a three-point shot and a three-point play that helped the Boosters secure the win. Petron needs just one more win to meet defending champion Talk ’N Text in the best-of-seven semifinals.

Arwind Santos finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds, rookie Chris Lutz added 18 while Cabagnot dished out an all-around performance with 14 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.

After struggling all-game long, Japeth Aguilar found a way to be useful for the limping Talk ‘N Text squad.

The former No. 1 overall pick completed two huge plays in the final 3.7 seconds and helped the Tropang Texters escape with a miraculous 80-78 win over Petron Blaze to clinch a twice-to-beat advantage in the next round of the 2011-12 PBA Philippine Cup Tuesday night at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Aguilar was in-and-out of the game due to poor performance and even got a mouthful from coach Chot Reyes on one occasion, but the former Smart Gilas mainstay kept his focus and returned in the closing seconds to bring his team the victory.

Published on December 2, 2011

Mark Caguioa teamed up with Willy Wilson for the winning play in the closing seconds as Barangay Ginebra edged Petron Blaze, 91-89, to formalize its entry into the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday. 

“We wanted set screens for Mark (Caguioa) but he was smart enough to find an open teammate (Wilson),” said Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen. 

A defensive breakdown by the Boosters left Wilson open to make the winning basket with 5.5 ticks left to play.

Barangay Ginebra labored its way into the quarterfinal round after snapping Petron Blaze’s six-game winning streak with a pulsating 91-89 win in the 2011-12 PBA Philippine Cup Friday night at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Mark Caguioa rebounded from poor performances in the past three games with 22 points and a crucial assist to Willy Wilson in the closing seconds for the go-ahead basket.

The Kings then forced Danny Ildefonso into a desperation heave that failed to hit the mark, as the Boosters fell to second place in the standings with a 9-4 win-loss slate.

MANILA, Philippines - NBA Hall of Famer Alex English will be in town for only a week to observe the Petron Blaze Boosters, particularly big men Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Carlo Sharma and Noy Baclao whom he will train for two months next year.

“We believe a two-month period of training is enough. Alex English doesn’t need to be here year round,” said SMC basketball operations chief Robert Non.

Petron tapped the former eight-time NBA All-Star player as skills coach following the transfer of Alton Lister to Meralco. Lister is a 17-year NBA veteran with stints with the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle Super Sonics, Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics and the Portland Trail Blazers.

Published on November 29, 2011

IT WAS not exactly a reprise of their first meeting, but Petron Blaze still came out on top through the skin of its teeth against Alaska Tuesday.

The Boosters repeated over the Aces, 90-85, to come closer to realizing a Top 2 finish in the eliminations of the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

Arwind Santos scored a game-high 24 points and combined with Danny Ildefonso and Denok Miranda for the biggest plays in the stretch that enabled Petron to unleash a decisive 7-0 windup.

It was a perfect November for Petron Blaze.

The Boosters came through with clutch plays down the stretch and defeated stubborn Alaska, 90-85, for their sixth straight win in the 2011 PBA Philippine Cup Tuesday night at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Petron ended this month unscathed after six games and improved their mark to 9-3, boosting its chances for the twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinal round.

Arwind Santos had 24 points, 9 rebounds and 3 steals, Alex Cabagnot added 20 markers, six boards and five assists while Dennis Miranda contributed 14 off the bench as they hit the crucial shots in the closing minutes.

Published on November 28, 2011

PETRON Blaze coach Ato Agustin knows Alaska may be down, but definitely not out. That is why he keeps stressing to his players the importance of being on their toes. 

“Hindi kami puwedeng mag-relax,” said Agustin on the eve of his streaking Boosters’ rematch Tuesday with an Alaska squad on the brink in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

 “Ang Alaska mahirap na kalaban, lalo na ngayong kailangang-kailangan nilang manalo,” added Agustin. “Kaya kailangan ding handa kami. Kailangan mas aggressive kami at di puwedeng aalis sa gameplan.”

Published on November 26, 2011

NAGA CITY – Arwind Santos knocked in the go-ahead shot then helped Denok Miranda stop Macmac Cardona in the ensuing play as Petron Blaze squeaked past Meralco, 76-75, in their PBA Philippine Cup out-of-town showdown at the Naga City Coliseum here Saturday night. 

The Boosters squandered an 11-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter but hung tough in a battle at the finish as they stayed on a roll and closed in on the front-running Talk n Text Tropang Texters (8-1) with eight wins against three losses.