by Waylon Galvez
Games on Jan. 4 (Mall of Asia Arena)
3:30 p.m. – Talk N’ Text vs Alaska
5:45 p.m. – Meralco vs Air21
Manila, Philippines – Barako Bull used a big fourth quarter run to beat Globalport, 108-95, and boost its quarterfinals bid in the PLDT myDSL PBA Philippine Cup yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Veteran forward JC Intal, rookie Carlo Lastimosa and former Most Valuable Player Willie Miller conspired to help the Energy Cola take a commanding 101-89 lead with 3:26 remaining in the game.
The Energy Cola, who have won two of their last three games following a six-game losing skid, entered the payoff period with a slim 82-79 lead.
Denok Miranda scored 19 points to lead five players in double figures as Barako Bull improved to 4-7 for solo seventh in the team standings.
It also gave Barako something to cheer before the end of the year after suffering a heartbreaking 99-95 loss to Rain or Shine last Friday. In that game, the Energy Cola held a 95-94 lead when the Elasto Painters’ Jeff Chan hit a game-winning triple in the dying seconds.
“I told the team that we approached Christmas with a win against Meralco, so let’s approach the New Year with a bang,” said coach Bong Ramos, referring to his 99-86 win against the Bolts last Dec. 22.
Energy Cola center Dorian Pena produced a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Lastimosa, the last pick in the second round of the PBA Rookie Draft, added 12 points in 19 minutes off the bench.
Globalport’s Jay Washington tied his career-high with 30 points but the Batang Pier absorbed their third straight defeat to fall into a tie for fifth place with the idle Alaska Aces at 4-6.
The rock-solid defense of Barako forced Globalport scorers Sol Mercado and rookie Terrence Romeo to combine for just 8-of-30 from the field. Romeo had 16 points while Mercado was held to just 12 markers.
Barako veteran Mick Pennisi added 14 points and hit two triples to become the seventh player in league history to make 800 career three-pointers. He is the fourth active player to join the club after Jimmy Alapag, Dondon Hontiveros and James Yap.
In the second game, Rain or Shine crushed San Mig Coffee, 101-77, to notch its third straight victory.
Rookie center Raymond Almazan delivered 17 points and 11 rebounds as the Elasto Painters gained solo third with a 7-3 record.
The scores:
First game:
BARAKO 108 – Miranda 19, Pena 15, Pennisi 14, Lastimosa 12, Jensen 11, Isip 10, Intal 9, Miller 7, Macapagal 6, Maierhofer 3, Wilson 2, Buenafe 0.
GLOBALPORT 95 – Washington 30, Romeo 16, Mercado 12, Garcia 8, Nabong 7, Hayes 6, Yee 4, Chua 4, Salva 4, Lingganay 2, Menk 2, Revilla 0, Salvador 0.
Quarters: 21-29, 50-49, 82-79, 108-95
Second game:
RAIN OR SHINE 101 – Almazan 17, Chan 15, Lee 15, Quinahan 12, Cruz 12, Rodriguez 7, Nuyles 6, Tiu 4, Tang 4, Norwood 4, Arana 3, Ibanes 2, Teng 0.
SAN MIG 77 – Yap 16, Devance 14, Simon 9, Pingris 8, Reavis 8, Barroca 6, Cawaling 5, Acuna 3, Gaco 3, Sangalang 2, Melton 2, Mallari 1, De Ocampo 0, Holstein 0.
Quarters: 27-17, 57-34, 78-58, 101-77