Energy blast Batang Pier
THERE was no end-game collapse this time for Barako Bull as the Energy hacked out a 108-95 win over Globalport yesterday in the PLDTMyDSL PBA Philippine Cup atMall of Asia Arena.
The Energy, who lost to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters two days ago on a triple by Jeff Chan in the dying seconds, broke away from a see-saw battle marked by 13 deadlocks and 13 lead changes with three consecutive threepoint shots to grab the lead for good at 88-79.
It was only the fourth victory in 11 outings for the Energy, who pinned a third consecutive setback in a 4-6 card on the Batang Pier despite a 30-point effort from JayWashington.
The Painters had an easier time in the second game as they blasted the San Mig Coffee Mixers, 101-77, to seize solo third at 7-3.
With the Mixers lapsing into a maze of errors at the outset and shooting below 32 percent, the Painters stormed to a 57-34 lead behind Paul Lee, Jeff Chan and JR Quiñahan and were never headed.
“This is the best way for us to end the year; we caught them on a night they were mentally down,” said RainOr Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
The loss kept the Mixers close to the cellar with a 3-7 card.
Recovering from a calf injury that sidelined him for three games, playmaker DennisMiranda responded with 19 points while big men Dorian Peña and Mick Pennisi also contributed heavily in a late offensive display that caught the Batang Pier off guard. STANDINGS W L Ginebra 9 1 Petron 8 2 R. Or Shine 7 3 Talk ‘N Text 6 3 Globalport 4 6 Alaska 4 6 Barako 4 7 SMig Coffee 3 7 Meralco 3 7 Air21 2 8 GAMES JAN. 4 ( MOA Arena) 3:30 p.m. Talk ‘N Text
vs Alaska 5:45 p.m. Meralco
vs Air21
The game remained close until JC Intal fired two triples and rookie Carlo Lastimosa added one in a two-minute span as the Energy finally shook off the pesky Batang Pier in the final period.
“We came from a heartbreaking loss, so I told them that we should not allow something like that to happen again,” said Barako Bull coach Bong Ramos.
With their perimeter shots deserting them, the Batang Pier fumbled their way into the closing minutes with Terrence Romeo and Sol Mercado committing a pair of errant passes that led to two easy baskets for Barako Bull.
So dismayed was San Mig coach Tim Cone that he let his deputy, Jeffrey Cariaso, call the shots, after halftime. 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 RAINORSHINE 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 SUPER COFFEE 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