Mother’s Day Treat: Llamados rip Kings in a record-setting night

Derby Ace shut down Barangay Ginebra’s running game on a day the Llamados finally got on an offensive mode, translating it to an emphatic 95-82 win in a showdown pitting two marquee teams of the PBA Fiesta Cup. James Yap poured a team-high 17 points to lead four other players in double figures for the Llamados, whose latest win gave them a 5-3 record for solo third place. “The incentive is just too big for us to pass up – solo third," said Derby Ace coach Ryan Gregorio. “We made sure our offense will see a little progress. I see things coming along offensively for us." “That is something which (scoring) we’ve been constantly working on," Gregorio added. Just before the game, Yap was awarded the basketball after becoming the latest member of the 5,000-point club in the Llamados last outing against Rain or Shine. At the half, it was Don Allado's turn to earn accolades when he grabbed his 2,000th defensive rebound in the league Cliff Brown came through with 13 points for Derby Ace, which also got 10 each from KG Canaleta, Raffi Reavies and Don Allado, respectively. Despite improving their scoring, not lost in the Llamados’ scheme of things is their vaunted tight team defense. After allowing the Kings to torch them for 27 points in the first quarter, the Llamados limited their high-scoring opponents to no more than 19 points in each of the last three periods. In all, Barangay Ginebra was held to a paltry 37.5 percent clip on a 30-of-80 shooting from the floor. Import Wilton Ambres typified the Kings’ shooting woes, missing five straight baskets during a stretch in the third period when the Llamados – again missing the services of injured stalwart Kerby Raymundo - pulled away for good. Ambres led Ginebra with 17 points, but was taken out for good by coach Jong Uichico with 5:22 left in the game and the Kings trailing, 74-82. The Kings suffered their second loss in three games for an even 4-4 card. “It’s nice to win games, especially when we’re up against a quality team," said Gregorio. A three-pointer by Willie Miller tied the game for the last time at 56-all midway in the third quarter. The Llamados then went on a 11-3 roll, six of them courtesy by Marc Pingris, to move ahead at 67-59. The lead ballooned to as much as 13 points, but the Kings threatened for the last time at 84-77 on a three-pointer by Ronald Tubid under four minutes to play. A Ginebra turn over and a perfect lob pass by Maierhofer over the airborne Reavies however, sealed the deal for the Llamados, 91-82, in the final 90 seconds. - RCJ, GMANews.TV