GOING OUT ON A BRIGHT NOTE
A CAMPAIGN that started out so promising has turned into a nightmare for both Barako Bull and GlobalPort.
It is now up to the two to salvage what they can when they wind up their PBA Commissioner’s Cup campaign Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Lady Luck has totally frowned on the two after they kicked off the mid-season conference at, or near, the top and now can only hope to end the tourney on a bright note.
The Energy Cola lost the chance to forge a playoff for the last quarterfinals slot when Air21 pulled the rug from under Petron Blaze Saturday. Had the Express lost, Barako Bull could have tied for 8th spot at 5-9.
Now the Energy Cola can only look forward to a win that would only officially lodge them at ninth but possibly give them momentum for the season-ending Governors’ Cup.
That’s so much better than GlobalPort’s fate.
Having not won since Feb. 15, when it notched its second victory in three games, the Batang Pier have been struck hard by an assortment of injuries, ineffective imports and plain bad luck. As a result, the former Powerade team has failed to add on to its new franchise record of two wins and has absorbed 11 straight losses, the most recent a 92-93 heartbreaker to Alaska last Friday. thus, a second straight cellar finish is up.
The sting of another futile campaign could all be soothed with a revenge win against Barako, which prevented a 2-0 start for GlobalPort with a 98-88 overtime win last Feb. 10.
The Energy Cola have their own problems with new import DJ Mbenga, whose gimpy right knee and far-from-ideal game shape has caused active consultant Rajko Toroman to rue their decision to replace original import Evan Brock.
The former LA Laker notched 14 points and 12 rebounds in his debut against Petron before faring even worse in a 97-106 loss to Rain or Shine also last Friday with just nine points along with six rebounds in only 23 minutes of play. (NC)
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