MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Cup ninth placer Barako Bull is off to a bullish start with its overhauled team.
The Energy Cola sustained the fire and energy of their triumphant debut against the San Mig Coffee Mixers Friday, withstanding the Globalport Batang Pier, 98-88, in overtime for the early solo lead in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.
Mark Macapagal, among the team’s key acquisitions during the brief in-between-conference break, banged in a three-pointer with .9 second left to force the extension play, and Barako Bull roared on in the extra period for a second straight win with its brand new lineup under new coaches Rajko Toroman and Bong Ramos.
“We’re really waiting for Macapagal’s shot the whole game. It came in the right time,†said Ramos of the clutch play capping Barako’s comeback from 10 points down in the last two minutes of regulation play.
The Energy Cola stepped up their game even more in overtime with Danny Seigle, Jonas Villanueva and Josh Urbiztondo going for the kill as they eventually stole the game from the Batang Pier.
“We showed lots of character out there,†said Urbiztondo who topscored for the locals with six three pointers and a total of 24 points.
The Batang Pier, on the other hand, floundered in the crunch, thus, blowing away a chance to already notch a franchise mark. It will be remembered that Globalport chalked up just a lone win in 14 games in the Philippine Cup.
They lost what had looked like a won ball game as they went scoreless in the last two minutes of regulation period and scored only two markers in OT.
“We played tough defense,†said Ramos, officially the Barako Bull head coach.
“Our strategy was to stop Sol Mercado’s penetration moves and the outside shots of Gary David and Willie Miller,†said Toroman, officially only Barako’s coaching consultant/first assistant coach who actively called the shots from the bench.
Evan Brock led all scorers with 25 points while Villanueva and Seigle added 18 and 16, respectively, for the Energy Cola who gave Toroman a good birthday present.
Going down the drain for Globalport were another sterling outings by Japeth Aguilar, Sol Mercado and Gary David.
The Batang Pier had a chance to salvage the game but David missed a jumper at the buzzer in regulations.
Brilliant plays by Brock, Urbiztondo and Seigle brought Barako Bull back into the game then Macapagal delivered the coup with his booming trey with nine-tenths of a second left.
Seigle sustained his charge in overtime, making two free throws then a big triple as the Energy Cola immediately took control in the extra period, 91-86.
Mercado scored on a drive to stop their bleeding but Villanueva quickly countered with a layup then Urbiztondo knocked in his sixth and final triple in the night to put the game away.