Barako Bull foils NLEX, leaves playoffs door open for Pacquiao, Kia

MANILA, Philippines -- Barako Bull, already bracing up for the playoffs, foiled NLEX’s own bid and, in the process, allowed Manny Pacquiao and his Kia team to remain in the hunt for the quarterfinals of the PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Tuesday night.

Sophomore guard RR Garcia scored a career-best 22 points with four other Barako players adding double-digit outputs as they repulsed the Road Warriors, 92-87, to stay on the run nearing the post-elims play of this all-Filipino tourney. 

Winning a game they could afford to lose, the Energy still made an impact in keeping the quarters door open on Pacquiao and the Sorento.

Kia (1-9) can bump off NLEX (3-7) for the last slot in the quarters if the Sorento win their last two games against the Meralco Bolts today and versus the Road Warriors themselves on Sunday.

Talk n Text and Purefoods Star clash in Wednesday's 7 p.m. mainer, both looking to improve their record in the upper half of the chart.

“It’s not about winning but more of preparing and stretching ourselves for the playoffs,” said Barako Bull coach Coy Banal.

“Going to this game, I emphasized to the guys the positive side of what we’re trying to do. Good thing, the guys responded,” Banal also said. “Obviously, defense was a big key. We can’t deny we didn’t play defense on our 0-5 start in the tourney.

For the record, the Energy gave away an average of 105.1 points in six losses and only an average of 79.5 in four wins.

Though playing a non-bearing match against NLEX, the Energy continued to play tough “D,” particularly in the opening and in the final quarters.

Behind key stops, Barako unleashed a decisive 21-9 run early in the fourth to surge ahead, 83-75, and subsequently nail its fourth win in its last five outings.

NLEX, on the other hand, reeled with a third straight loss and its sixth in its last seven matches.

Garcia drained three three-pointers and connected on a 9-of-15 overall field shooting in improving his previous career high of 20 markers.

At the finish, the former FEU stalwart came through with crucial hustle efforts to cap his sterling performance.

Chico Lanete and Willy Wilson contributed 13 points apiece each, Mick Pennisi added 12 and JC Intal chipped in 10. 

Dorian Pena finally returned from a long layoff, checking in the fourth quarter to defend against Asi Taulava.

NOTES: Vergel Meneses, Johnny Abarrientos and Jojo Lastimosa are expected to lead the next batch of honorees to the PBA Hall of Fame. Held every two years since it was instituted in 2005, the blue-ribbon affair has honored 18 celebrated players, the latest being the trio of Benjie Paras, Ronnie Magsanoc and Lim Eng Beng in 2013. Meneses, Abarrientos and Lastimosa, among the league’s 25 PBA greatest named in 2000, could well be next.