Ramon Cao asserted himself in the endgame to help Macau complete a 132-126 come-from-behind victory over Titan Ultra to break through in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup, Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The reliable big man finished with 28 points and 13 rebounds in 30 minutes of play, as he took it upon himself to bring the Giant Pandas home after staring at a 120-119 deficit with 1:52 remaining.
He made seven in a row to give them the 126-120 lead with 31.1 seconds left, putting them in the driver’s seat and eventually completing the comeback from as much as 19 points down.
De’Vondre Perry helped him out to keep their foes at bay, before Cao applied the final blow with a cleanup from point-blank range. The former Hong Kong Eastern forward produced 11 of Macau’s last 13 points of the bout.
(C) PBA Images
Thanks to him, the guest team finally got on board in Group A with a 1-4 card while sending Titan crashing back to earth after stunning TNT last Wednesday.
“We were just able to piece it together today. But we started badly, too. Our first half was not acceptable. They just outplayed us,” said coach Marcus Elliott.
“My speech at halftime was, ‘Hey, man, get your head out of your behind and come out and play hard.’ They’re just outhustling us, but we were able to put it together,” added the former ABL World Import MVP turned bench tactician.
Perry dropped a monster game of 32 points and 22 rebounds plus five assists for Macau. Meanwhile, the comebacking Jenning Leung turned in 22 points on top of three rebounds, seven dimes, and four of the team’s nine steals.
Kobey Lam and Damian Chongqui provided 19 points apiece, while Jeffrey Ma added 10 as they all played a role in their massive second-half showing in which the Giant Pandas poured 81 big points, including 44 in the third alone.
Macau will try to follow up its maiden win with another when it takes on Terrafirma on Wednesday, July 29, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
(C) PBA Images
Tirrell Brown led Titan Ultra with 30 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists in the collapse. Joshua Munzon made 19 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.
Fran Yu had 17 points and a career-high 14 assists and a franchise record 14 assists. Jerrick Balanza, Pao Javillonar, and Ato Ular added at least 10 each.
Up next for the Giant Risers is San Miguel Beer, whom they will be facing on the 29th as well, in the 7:30 PM main event of the double-header.
The Scores:
Macau 132 – Perry 32, Cao 28, Leung 22, Chongqui 19, Lam 19, Ma 10, Liu 2, Chao 0, Lu 0.
Titan Ultra 126 – Brown 30, Munzon 19, Yu 17, Balanza 14, Javillonar 12, Ular 10, Sajonia 8, Dionisio 5, Pessumal 5, Sumang 2, Omega 2, Caralipio 2.
Quarterscores: 19-35; 51-67; 95-94; 132-126.
