Like Fire and Ice: Petron wins over Meralco

2 of the league's Top 3 combo guards: Cabagnot vs Mercado

Slowly but surely, Petron Blaze Boosters point guard Alex Cabagnot is shedding his soft, choker, drama queen tag (rightfully earned by him from Santa Lucia diehards such as this writer) and has even received a new monicker: "Mr. Clutch" as he leads the Boosters quarterfinals campaign.

In this afternoon's match versus the Meralco Bolts, the Boosters started sluggishly with their bigs failing to match the Bolts' Asi Taulava, Reynel Hugnatan, Gabby Espinas and Mark Isip. Still, the Bolts' failed to capitalize as their top guards Sol Mercado and Mark Cardona where being checked by the Boosters at all times.

The game was pretty close in the first three quarters, with both teams exchanging runs and stops but come 4th quarter, the Boosters' Lutz was back to his quiet double digit scoring ways, Arwind Santos was his usual, all-around self, big man Rob Reyes provided the energy and hustle that was missing early-- and oh, Cabagnot went HAM and just took over.

It was bad enough that Mercado couldn't get in his usual rhythm, but the temperamental "Sol Train" was being made to look like a street-balling fool by the "Cool Whip" who finished with a nice 14 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists line.

This early we may be looking at Cabagnot making a run for Most Valuable Player-- the way media voting is in these parts anyway, which may or may not sit well with teammate and franchise cornerstone Santos. Of course, both enjoy the full backing not only of SMC management, but of the VIVA Talent Agency as well (I'm waiting for both to co-star in a Sarah Geronimo/ Anne Curtis movie in 2012).

For the Bolts to force a do-or-die game, they need to get Cardona in rhythm early while Mercado does his usual combo guard thing. The only way the Bolts survive Game 2 and force a do-or-die third game is if Asi Taulava flexes his muscle down low and puts the Boosters' bigs in foul trouble early and not the other way around. Once Taulava controls the paint, things would open up for Cardona, Mercado and even Gabby Espinas who struggled mightily against Santos instead of canceling him out.

On a side note, show love and LIKE us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/kilikilishot Thanks!