Philippine Sports News and Updates

MANILA, Philippines – Harbour Centre continued its amazing run in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) 2009 PG Flex Linoleum Cup and claimed Bacchus Energy Drink its fifth victim, 82-60, Tuesday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Harbour Centre, seeking for a record sixth straight crown, poured it all in the final period using a 13-3 exchange to enjoy a 68-52 edge with 4:50 left in the game.

Boyet Bautista orchestrated that Batang Pier breakaway punctuating that scoring run with an assist to a waiting Reil Cervantes underneath.

“We played a lot better since the team is relaxed in the first half." said Harbour coach Jorge Gallent. “We just played good defense and we did not get rattled in the three-pointers they made in the first quarter."

Rico Maierhofer led the defending champions with 16 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and blocked three shots.

But Bautista was the man of the moment as he scored eight points and dished out a number of assists in that pivotal fourth-quarter surge. He finished with 14 points behind a 5-of-7 shooting from the field to go with hi five assists.

“Boyet has been playing well and in practices also. He showed the way he practices in today’s game," said Gallent, who also got 11 points and six rebounds from Jerwin Gaco.

Paul Lee topped the Energy Warriors with 16 points going 3of-6 from beyond the arc, along with his seven rebounds. Julius Colina added 15 markers and nine rebounds, while Pari Llagas had nine and 12.

– GMANews.TV