Barako Bull routs import-less Blackwater

Games Friday (Cuneta Astrodome)

4:15 p.m. – Meralco vs Kia

7 p.m. – Globalport vs Purefoods Star

MANILA, Philippines – Barako Bull, with seven-foot import Solomon Alabi, had a relatively easy time winning its first game in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, hardly tested by an all-Filipino Blackwater side in a 92-70 rout at the Cuneta Astrodome Wednesday night.

Alabi towered above everybody, collecting game highs of 21 points, 22 rebounds and five blocks against a Blackwater team that faced tough match-up problems with import Chris Charles sidelined by a hamstring injury.

Curiously, Charles arrived in the country way ahead of the other imports only to find himself helpless on the bench in Blackwater’s first game in the mid-season tourney.

Sol Mercado delivered 20 points, three rebounds, three assists and one steal in his first game in a Barako Bull jersey while Chico Lanete and JC Intal combined for 32 markers, eight boards and four assists as the Energy kept the Elite winless from the season-opening Philippine Cup.

At 0-12, Blackwater is now two games away from tying the longest losing streak by any PBA team. The record 0-14 belongs to Shopinas.com.

“I can’t ask for more from Alabi. He was our ring protector out there, and I like his attitude,” said Barako Bull coach Coy Banal.

“Sol also delivered, making us not miss Denok Miranda. We’ve got a gem in Sol. He’s athletic,” Banal also said of the Fil-foreign guard that they acquired in a trade for Miranda after the Philippine Cup.

Banal was satisfied with the performance of his starters Alabi, Mercado, Lanete, Intal and Dave Marcelo but felt his reserves must play better in their succeeding games.

The Elite drew much more from their shock-troopers who outscored the Barako bench, 28-19.

Ralph Reyes, Jason Ballesteros, Alex Nuyles and Eddie Laure provided a big push as the Elite charged to within two points, 58-60, before the end of the third quarter.

But as Mercado and Lanete checked back at the start of the fourth quarter, the Energy quickly pulled away again, leading by 17 points four times before wrapping up the win.

Mercado, Lanete and Willy Wilson teamed up in a 13-0 start by Barako in the payoff period, and the Energy never looked back en route to repeating their 92-87 win over the Elite in their Philippine Cup elims tiff.

It was actually a 15-to-nothing run with Alabi making a short stab in the closing seconds of the third period.

Bryan Faundo, among those who defended against Alabi, paced the losing team with 16 points and eight rebounds.

Guards Brian Heruela and Reyes added nine points apiece while Bam Gamalinda contributed eight markers and seven boards.

Alabi converted seven of 12 field shots and seven of 10 charities in leading all scorers.