Boone solid anew as Beermen go 2-0

MANILA, Philippines -- To change or not to change.

San Miguel Beer is now faced with this delicate question on the status of Josh Boone after the Beermen roared to a second straight win with the former New Jersey Net in tow, toppling the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 112-96, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday night.

Boone came up with another solid showing with 32 points and 21 rebounds as the Beermen scored a follow-up on their 94-76 blasting of the Meralco Bolts Friday and thus caught up with the Talk n Text Tropang Texters in the lead at 2-0.

The 6-foot-10 UConn product continued to play A1 basketball even as supposed replacement Kevin Jones has arrived.

“We have a problem ahead of us. But it’s a good problem,” said San Miguel coach Biboy Ravanes. “We’ll deliberate on this, then we’ll hear from the management.”

“Josh is professional beyond belief. I can’t say enough about Josh whatever the outcome of the management decision,” said San Miguel Beer consultant Todd Purves.

Barako Bull, cashing in on Joshua Dollard’s second straight 40-plus performance, pulled a first one over Rain or Shine in eight meetings as the Energy Cola drubbed the Elasto Painters, 110-106, earlier in the night.

In a follow-up to his 45-point PBA debut Friday, Dollard piled up 44 markers on 13-of-26 field shooting and 17-of-21 free throws, and also snared 19 rebounds to power Barako Bull to a first win over Rain or Shine over seven conferences.

A mere replacement to Dwayne Chism, the former Auburn Tiger became the first player to put in back-to-back 40-plus games since Tony Mitchell delivered the same feat with Talk n Text in the same conference last year.

“Our first choice is taller and is also a very good but he had a contractual problem with his previous team in Hungary. It turned to be a blessing in disguise,” said Barako Bull coach Bong Ramos.

“The team has become more versatile with Dollard. The problem is that we’re using limited plays with him. He’s not used to playing with so much options. He’s confused,” Ramos also said.

“Pagnakakalimutan niya ang play namin, blessing in disguise din because he just goes one-on-one.

That’s what I’m telling him ‘if you forget the play, don’t stop playing and just attack the basket,” the Barako Bull bench chieftain added.

Dollard poured in 17 of his 44 points in the payoff period, and the Energy Cola made a decisive run from 85-88 down to pull off a first win after placing sixth place in the Philippine Cup.

The Energy Cola stunned the E-Painters – the all-Filipino losing finalists -- by overcoming a flat start and a 16-point deficit at 26-42 late in the second quarter.

“Basketball is a game of adjustment. We kept on making adjustments until we found the right formula in the third quarter,” said Ramos.

Ronjay Buenafe scored all of his 11 points in the third period with his second of three triples knotting the count at 66-all.

Dollard pressed his attack in the fourth quarter and the Energy Cola seized control at 101-91 with 4:11 left to play.

The E-Painters mounted their own rally at the finish, but Willy Wilson entered the floor in the dying seconds to knock in the game-clinching free throws.

Willie Miller, playing limited minutes in their first game against Barangay Ginebra Friday, saw action for 33 minutes last night and produced 19 markers, eight boards and five assists.

Denok Miranda contributed 13 points, three rebounds and two steals against four turnovers.

Alex McLean paced the losing team with 21 points and 16 boards.