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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
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05
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06
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2024
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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
05
06
2024
With Mick Pennisi still playing for Barako Bull, Talk ‘N Text clobbered the Energy, 122-106. With Pennisi now gone, this should be a breeze for the Tropang Texters, right?
Wrong, says TNT star point guard Jimmy Alapag.
“Losing Mick was tough for them because he’s not only a veteran, but also a great outside shooter,” says Alapag. “But it gives the other guys an opportunity to be on the floor so we’ll have to be ready.”
Pennisi was shipped to Purefoods Star a few days ago, leaving Barako Bull without a legitimate inside banger and zone-breaking shooter when it fights for survival against TNT at 4:15 p.m. Friday on Day 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
The Tropang Texters, ranked fourth after the elimination round, hold a twice-to-beat advantage as one of the top four teams in the playoffs and can advance to the knockout phase with a victory this afternoon.
No. 9 Barako Bull, on the other hand, needs two wins to deny the Texters and set up a third do-or-die against the winner of the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel-GlobalPort matchup.
The 6-foot-9 Pennisi, a menacing presence under the basket with his bald head, mean scowl and heavy tattoos, had 11 points, with 2 three-point shots, 9 rebounds and a block when the Texters hammered the Energy, 40-20, right in the first quarter last Nov. 23 on the way to a 31-point lead at one point.
Now the Energy will have to look elsewhere for those contributions, including the intangibles which Pennisi brings to the table.
Paolo Hubalde had 19 points for Barako Bull in that game, with Chico Lanete and JC Intal adding 16 each and Denok Miranda 12 points. With three of their top four scorers playing the point guard position and nobody from the frontline after Pennisi and rookie Jake Pascual making their presence felt, the Energy will have to scrape and claw to keep up with TNT’s relentless inside operators.
Still Alapag refuses to count Barako Bull out – with or without Pennisi.
“We are preparing for a tough game,” said Alapag, who had 14 points behind Jayson Castro’s 21 when the two teams first met. “I don’t think their record is a good example of how tough they’ve played teams this conference. It’s important we continue pushing to get better now that the playoffs are here.”
Coming off back-to-back wins to end the eliminations, Alapag stressed the need to further build on what they’ve accomplished so far.
“Those are two good wins,” he said. “Hopefully we can sustain that momentum going into tomorrow’s game.” (WJRHT)
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