Penny’s a million for Barako

James Penny unloaded million dollar three-pointers down the stretch and Red Bull outlasted Barangay Ginebra, 86-83, in a fierce showdown last night to level their San Mig Coffee PBA Fiesta Cup best-of-seven semifinal showdown at the Araneta Coliseum.

Penny banged in back-to-back triples at endgame, erasing the Bulls’ three-point deficit at 79-82 then giving the team the lead to stay as they avenged their 100-105 defeat in the series opener Sunday in the same venue.

After scoring a personal conference high of 35 points to no avail Sunday, Penny bucked a slight fever to dish out a double-double performance with 25 points and 16 rebounds. More importantly, he was right on target in the payoff period, scattering 10 points, including the two treys that decided the outcome of the game.

"I’ve got open looks and I have to take it. It happens to fall in," said Penny.

Chris Porter, who played limited minutes in Game One due to fouls, returned with a big game only to see his efforts go down the drain. Penny and Porter, who were teammates for two years with the Oklahoma Storm in the Continental Basketball Association in the US, are having their own fierce rivalry on the hard court. "It’s about bragging rights when we go back home," said Penny.

Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao was happy with their win but still hit the officiating.

"We’ll officially ask the league to review the game tape. There were lots of bad calls that went against us. We’re just lucky to win. Just barely so, by the skin of our teeth," said Guiao.

Marquin Chandler fired 29 points, including the go-ahead basket with time down to 12.5 seconds, then the Purefoods Chunkee Giants made a crucial defensive stop to make it two in a row over the Air21 Express, 88-87, to move within two wins of the finals in the second game.