Pacana soars for the Tigers

By JOEL ORELLANA
The Manila Times Reporter

Chris Pacana is beginning to prove that he’s a bigtime player who belongs to the big-time league.

The 6-foot-1 Pacana came to the rescue for Coca-Cola in the pivotal fourth quarter and teamed up with Dennis Miranda and Allan Salangsang to lead their team to a come-from-behind 92-86 win over Welcoat Sunday night in the Talk ’N Text-Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

The 24-year-old product of St. Francis of Assisi had 14 of his career-high 18 points in the fourth period including the last four that sealed the win for the Tigers and snapped a two-game losing streak to improve to 3-4.

Salangsang also netted a personal-best 21 markers including 5 booming triples that helped Coke to stay in the game as the Dragons, who absorbed their third straight loss, tried to pull away but to no avail.

"Playing with our three pieces missing, I told the players that it will be tough. It’ll call of holding their arms together, sticking with it and pitching in whatever they could. Sometimes when you play hard, you’ll be lucky," said Coke head coach Binky Favis.

"Chris showed up big tonight. But everybody played their roles to the hilt tonight including Manny [Ramos] and Mike [Gavino]. Denok [Miranda] was our leader defensively and Allan had a great shooting game," Favis added.

The Tigers, who now avenged their 75-85 loss in their first meeting, played minus Ali Peek (injured left knee), William Antonio (groin) and Neil Raneses (family concerns).

But the back-ups, particularly Pacana and Salangsang, were more than willing to carry the fight of the team which appeared on losing another match to the Dragons who led by as much as 11 points in the game at 57-46.

Coke quickly returned into the game by unloading a 14-4 run capped by Salangsang’s triple to close in at 58-61 and the former Barangay Ginebra shooter added a pair of treys at the start of the fourth to move even closer at 64-66.

Welcoat remained in control of the game with Jojo Tangkay, who registered a career-high 25 points, and Rob Wainwright doing most of the damage as the Dragons held an 80-75 lead with just 3:11 left in the game.

Then Pacana took charge the rest of the way, starting the uprising with a three-point play off Nino Gelig that sparked a 10-0 blast capped by Miranda’s banked shot for an 85-80 cushion, 1:15 remaining.

Tangkay buried a triple to put Welcoat back in the game, 83-85, but Salangsang answered with his own rainbow shot. After Tangkay sank three free throws on the foul of Miranda, Pacana hit a difficult lay-up over 6-foo-t8 Jay-R Reyes and sealed the win with two free throws.

It was indeed a painful loss for the Dragons who were in the same situation as in their previous game against Red Bull where they led by as much as 17 points in the third but bungled it and yielded an 80-77 decision.

Scores:

Coke 92—Salangsang 21, Pacana 18, Arigo 15, Ferreria 9, Miranda 8, Ramos 6, Misolas 6, Yeo 5, Gavino 4.

Welcoat 86—Tangkay 25, Wainwright 17, Cabatu 16, Ibanes 10, Lopez 7, Gelig 6, Reyes 4, Sta. Maria 1, Baguion 0, Lao 0, Mente 0.

Quarters: 13-19, 38-41, 58-61, 92-86.