Red Bull stops Jones Cup titlists in Brunei semis

Red Bull Barako stepped up its title bid in the fourth Shell Invitational basketball tournament in Brunei Monday by subduing Jones Cup champion You Lon of Chinese-Taipei, 100-93, at the start of the round-robin semifinals at the Berakas indoor gym.

Fil-Am point guard Denver Lopez fired three triples, Rico Villanueva slammed in his third dunk in the game off 6-7 Taiwan import Cedric McGinnis on a Lopez pass , Lordy Tugade stole off Chan Au and scored on a dunk in the homestretch to finalize the Barakos’ triumph.

Team manager Tony Chua praised the Barakos for their big fighting hearts. "We were underdogs because Vergel (Meneses) was not able to play, but we played tough," said Chua.

Korea’s professional team Hankook Raiders blasted the other Philippine squad, Spring Cooking Oil-Laguna, by more than 20 points in the other semifinal contest.

Red Bull trailed 22-23 and 44-49 in the first two quarters, but surged ahead 74-68 going into the playoff period.

The score see-sawed in the last canto until Lopez connected those triples, the last of which gave the Barakos a two-point edge with two minutes left, and Villanueva and Tugade uncorked two dunks.

Red Bull took the early lead, but the Taiwanese, playing behind a zone, grabbed the upperhand at the turn. Only Cyrus Baguio, who sparkled with 25 points and six rebounds, and Davonn Harp, who finished with 12 points and nine boards, fought back to keep Red Bull in the contest.

The Barakos came out strong in the third with Junthy Valenzuela and Mick Pennisi hitting big points to take that six-point spread after three quarters.

The other top Red Bull scorers were Villanueva with 18, Valenzuela 15 and Lopez and Tugade, 10 each.

Tan Lei and Chan tallied 23 each for You Lon, with McGinnis and Chu Yi adding 19 and 13, respectively.

Red Bull and the Koreans only need to hurdle their second rivals to arrange a crown showdown.