B-Meg spills Alaska, earns semis berth

MANILA, Philippines - Commissioner’s Cup champion B-Meg kept its amazing romp, playing tough defense to spill Alaska Milk, 77-61, and clinch the first slot in the PBA Governors Cup semifinal round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

After losing their opening game to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, the Llamados have gone on a five-game roll, enough for a spot in the next round featuring six teams carrying over their elimination-round win-loss marks.

The Llamados nailed victory No. 5 in holding the Aces to their lowest output in a game in the last nine years. They did the job even with import Marcus Blakely on the bench most of the final half after a bump with Sonny Thoss.

“We played some good defense. I think it’s our best since I’ve been around (in this team),” said B-Meg coach Tim Cone.

The Llamados seized the solo lead at 5-1 while the Aces moved deeper down the chart at 1-5.

In the first game, Leroy Hickerson fought tournament scoring leader Zach Graham shot for shot and the Barako Bull locals outperformed their Air21 counterparts in a 109-100 victory that pushed them up to joint third place.

Hickerson produced 38 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as against Graham’s 41 markers and 17 boards – an energetic performance that rubbed off on his teammates as Barako made it two in a row and caught up with Powerade and Barangay Ginebra at third at 3-2.

The loss, their fourth against a win, practically dropped Air21 out of contention for the semifinals.

The former Cumberland U stalwart scattered 13 points right in the opening quarter and the Energy took control from start to finish despite losing the battle off the boards that prompted Red Bull coach Junel Baculi to scold them at the half.

“I was mad at the half because we were being outrebounded though we’re the taller team,” said Barako coach Junel Baculi.

“We still ended up beaten in rebounding and that’s been the case in our last five games. We’re lucky winning games because if you’re outrebounded, more often you lose,” Baculi added.

The Energy relied on better shooting to make up for their deficiency on board work.

Hickerson shot 50 percent (2-of-4) from the three-point zone and 63.6 percent (7-of-11) from the two-point area and the whole Barako team hit at a 43.4-percent clip as against Air’21 39.1-percent shooting.

The Express kept the game close in the first half, 47-53, while dominating the boards, 35-27.

Graham led all scorers for throwing a lot of shots. He missed five of eight three-point tries and 12 of 21 two-pointers.

Baculi acknowledged that Hickerson put up a monster performance but said the team, as a whole, needs to step up further to make the semifinals.

“We’re going on a tough grind facing Rain or Shine, Talk n Text then Barangay Ginebra. We have to be physically and mentally prepared,” said Baculi.

Mick Pennisi, Doug Kramer, Leo Najorda, Celino Cruz, Willie Miller and Don Allado were among locals helping Barako through versus Air21.

Danny Seigle was again out due to a calf injury.

Pennisi knocked in four treys and wound up with 14 points, Kramer put in double-double numbers with 10 points and 10 rebounds while Najorda, Cruz, Miller and Allado added at least eight points each.

The Energy started the game with a 13-2 attack and led by as many as 15, 105-90, late in the fourth quarter of the game marred by flagrant fouls committed by Wynne Arboleda and Kramer.

Arboleda scored five points, dished out four assists and pulled down a rebound in his first meeting with his former team.