Wilson keys Red Bull win vs TnT

Game tomorrow (Angeles City)

5 p.m. – Ginebra vs Blackwater

MANILA, Philippines – Willie Wilson churned out an incredible career-best 28 points and 20 rebounds last night as Barako Bull hacked out a 105-98 overtime win over TNT to improve to joint sixth in the Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.

Wilson, 35, outsmarted and outplayed supposedly quicker and tougher matchups in Harvey Carey and Kelly Williams, coming through with a first-ever 20-20 game as the Energy nailed down the crucial win that tied them with the NLEX Road Warriors and the Barangay Ginebra Kings at 4-4.

Wilson, enjoying tremendous rise in his 12th year as a pro, and his teammates now have three cracks at clinching an automatic quarterfinal berth.

They play the Blackwater Elite, the Star Hotshots and the Alaska Milk Aces in their last three assignments in the elims.

Also with a big game from RR Garcia before he suffered a dislocated shoulder early in overtime, the Energy pulled the rug from under the Texters whom they relegated to fifth place at 4-3.

 “We played the game with a sense of urgency. We talked about this game even before our last game against Rain or Shine,” said Barako Bull coach Koy Banal.

 “We played tough from start to finish,” added Banal, scoring a big win against a team with an elite roster of coaches including consultant Tab Baldwin, multi-titled PBA coach Jong Uichico and recently crowned UAAP champion coach Nash Racela.

The Energy showed great will and determination to snap  straight losses to the San Miguel Beermen and the ROS Elasto Painters.

Wilson and Garcia led the way as they beat out the Texters in a fierce and furious battle that went into overtime following a missed basket each by Wilson and Jayson Castro in the last three seconds of regulation.

Troy Rosario drilled in two charities off a foul by Mac Baracael to tie the count at 97 with 15.5 ticks left.

Barako hurdled TNT in the end in holding the Texters down to one point in the extra period.

Garcia scored all of Barako’s last eight points in regulation. After Garcia suffered an injury two minutes into overtime, Wilson took over, scoring five of their last six markers.

Wilson went 10-of-18 from the field and 8-of-11 from the stripe to surpass his previous career high of 21.

Before the game, the former La Salle Archer averaged 14.7 points and 11.8 rebounds.

Meanwhile, Alaska Milk, behind clutch plays by second-string guards RJ Jazul and Chris Banchero at the finish, drubbed Meralco, 88-86, to enhance its Top Two drive in the nightcap.

The Aces once again pulled even with the San Miguel Beermen in the lead at 7-1 while sending the Bolts deeper down the cellar at 1-8.

Curiously, through his first 11 seasons in the pros, he never averaged more than 6.04 in a season.

JC Intal added 12 markers while Jeric Fortuna chipped in 10 points for the Energy, who also drew nine points from Baracael and seven markers from Rodney Brondial.

Moala Tautuaa topscored for the Tropang Texters with 20 points while Castro and Rosario added 19 points apiece.

The scores:

First Game

BARAKO 105 – Wilson 28, Garcia 22, Intal 12, Fortuna 10, Baracael 9, Brondial 7, Lanete 6, Miranda 6, Urbiztondo 3, Monfort 2, Pennisi 0, Caperal 0.

TNT 98 – Tautuaa 20, Castro 19, Rosario 19, Carey 8, Williams 8, Miranda 7, Rosser 6, Reyes R. 6, Fonacier 5, Reyes J. 0, Seigle 0.

Quarterscores: 19-27, 44-43, 78-75, 97-97, 105-98

Second Game

ALASKA 88 – Banchero 13, Manuel 13, Casio 12, Hontiveros 11, Jazul 11, Baguio 9, Abueva 4, Menk 4, Baclao 1, Dela Cruz 0, Exciminiano 0.

MERALCO 86 – Hodge 25, Dillinger 15, Al-Hussaini 10, Buenafe 9, Alapag 8, David 4, Hugnatan 4, Nabong 4, Newsome 4, Ferriols 2, Amer 1, Faundo 0.

Quarterscores: 21-24, 42-37, 54-55, 88-86