Red Bull outlasts Alaska in physical game

LAOAG — Red Bull squandered a chance to beat Alaska Milk in regulation play but, through the exploits of Celino Cruz and Cyrus Baguio, lived on in overtime, hacking out a 100-97 victory in a highly emotional Smart PBA Fiesta Conference road game at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena last night.

Cruz went 3-of-3 from the three-point area and totaled 13 points in the extra period, with Baguio adding five as the Bulls overcame the Aces in the contest marred by the ejection of Alaska coach Tim Cone then a confrontation between Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao and Alaska import Randy Holcomb.

The Bulls caught up with the Coca-Cola Tigers at the helm on their fourth win against a solitary loss. The Aces, on the other hand, fell to solo eighth on their third defeat against two wins.

Red Bull could have won the game right in regulation play if not for a missed free throw and a muffed drive by local boy Leo Najorda in the closing seconds.

Najorda went to the stripe on Holcomb’s flagrant foul sending Rich Alvarez flat on the floor with a suspected broken nasal bone.

A furious Guiao threw a mouthful on Holcomb, triggering a near fight.

The Red Bull mentor was assessed a technical foul, and Jeffrey Cariaso nailed the charity to tie the count at 82-all.

The Bulls blew away a 13-point spread in the third period but waged their own spirited chase that saw them wipe out an eight-point deficit in the last 1:43 of play.

The Aces made the ejection of their coach late in the third period as their rallying point as they erased a 49-62 deficit and erected a lead as many as nine at 79-70.

Cone was thrown out of the game as he threw a tantrum on the playing court in questioning the refs’ decision to let go what he felt was a goal-tending violation by Adam Parada on LA Tenorio.

The Aces rallied early in the fourth quarter with assistant coach Joel Banal calling the shots for the team.