With heads unbowed

It took a rare four-point play from Talk ‘N’ Text forward Ranidel de Ocampo to end Barako Bull’s hopes of barging into the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals and the dagger came with 2:40 left in the deciding Game 5 of one of the league’s most bruising semifinal pairings ever at the Smart Araneta Coliseum the other night.

De Ocampo’s shot from the deep corner found the bottom of the net and he hit a bonus free throw on Danny Seigle’s foul as Barako went up, 96-88. The Energy scrambled to regroup but could only score two more points before succumbing, 101-90.

Barako’s luck took a bad turn when Mick Pennisi exited with a broken nose, time down to 4:40 in the second period. Pennisi got an elbow from a driving Jared Dillinger as he stood his ground to take a charge. He walked away with two rebounds and two blocked shots in 13 minutes.

Pennisi, at 37 the oldest player in the series, was named Best Player in Game 3 which Barako won, 85-81, last Saturday. Pennisi compiled 15 points and eight rebounds to earn the honor. No doubt, the 6-9 Fil-Aussie would’ve made a difference down the stretch in Game 5. As Barako’s only legitimate shot blocker, he could’ve altered the Texters’ shots on penetrations and given Texters import Donnell Harvey a tougher challenge. On offense, Pennisi’s outside shot was badly missed particularly in the last few minutes when the Energy desperately looked to hit threes.

Two-time MVP Willie Miller, defended by Ryan Reyes, crumbled under pressure and managed only 2-of-11 from the field and 1-of-3 free throws. His vanishing act was telling. Texters coach Chot Reyes just wouldn’t allow the Thriller to explode.

Barako veteran Seigle battled fiercely to keep the flag flying. He tied his conference-high of 21 points in a courageous effort but in the end, the Dynamite’s fuse went unlit. Ronald Tubid and Don Allado also delivered quality numbers, combining for 30 points, five rebounds and six assists. Import Gabe Freeman disappeared like Miller in the fourth quarter – they were both scoreless in the last 12 minutes. Freeman wound up with 22 points but wasn’t available when it came down to winning time.

The Texters goaded Barako into engaging in a shootout and the Energy, unwittingly or wittingly, obliged. As a result, Game 5 was high-scoring. Barako actually outshot Talk ‘N’ Text from the field, 46 percent to 44 percent, but the shootout took away the Energy’s focus on defense. Without Pennisi helping out off the boards, Barako was outrebounded, 48-41, and the Tropa had a field day lording it over the offensive glass for extra possessions. Worse, Barako surrendered too many free throws as the Tropa went 30-of-38 from the line compared to the Energy’s 11-of-15. In Barako’s two wins in the series, the Tropa was held to an average of only 79. In the Texters’ three wins, they averaged 110.7.    

Still, Barako had nothing to be ashamed of. The Energy wasn’t tipped to beat Talk ‘N’ Text in the first place and pushing the Tropa to the limit was a major feat particularly as Barako is the league’s oldest team. The Manong Brigade had something to prove in the series. The elders were determined to show they’re far from over the hill and they did it with a flourish.

Disconsolate Barako coach Junel Baculi said De Ocampo’s four-point play was a huge blow and Pennisi’s absence disturbed the flow of his big-man rotation. “The three-point shot that went in by De Ocampo was a dagger in the fourth quarter, in front of the Talk ‘N’ Text bench but the exit of Mick shortened the rotation of our bigs,” said Baculi. “After that, Harvey went berserk. I told the players we tried and fought hard despite all odds, distractions and the bias against us of referee Edward Aquino. We will try again next conference.”

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Baculi expressed disappointment over Miller’s disappearance. “He didn’t step up to the plate when needed,” said Baculi. “He’s our barometer in winning. If he’s aggressive and scores high, we’ll win.”

Baculi rushed to the Chinese General Hospital to check on Pennisi when the game ended. “I went to the hospital with my coaching staff and team manager,” said Baculi. “Mick’s nose was badly broken. It was twisted. They had to insert a bridge to hold it together. But the surgeon did a splendid job. He’s the same doctor who operated on Enrico Villanueva’s nose. Mick had surgery the same night of the game. He’s okay now except that his nose is swollen. He’ll be out of the hospital in a few days.”

From his hospital bed, Pennisi sent this message to The Star: “I’m a bit okay, got pain and headache. Hopefully, I get better soon.”

Barako’s PBA governor Manny Alvarez said he’s proud of the team. “For Barako having brought Talk ‘N’ Text, a powerhouse team, to a Game 5 is already quite an achievement,” said Alvarez. “There is nothing more we can ask from our rejuvenated ‘Manongs.’ Of course, it would have been fantastic had we won. But no excuses, we simply lost to a better team.”

Alvarez said Pennisi’s exit was critical. “Too bad Mick was injured in Game 5,” continued Alvarez. “He could have made a difference in the game. But that’s the way basketball is, accidents do happen. We blame no one – not the referees, not the Talk ‘N’ Text players, for the accident. We will not even call them names. The bottom line is – we lost to a better team. For Barako, we will strive to improve continually so we hope to perform even better in the third conference.”