BARAKO BULL BATTLES GINEBRA WITH EYE ON SHARE OF LEAD
Barako Bull tries to regain a piece of the lead while Barangay Ginebra aims to stay right off the pace as they meet in a crucial tiff in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday.
The Energy will be out to sustain the momentum of their strongest start in a tourney in a long while, dealing curiously with the team they helped clinch the “Japeth Aguilar trade” during the season break.
Barako Bull faces Aguilar and the Kings at 7:30 p.m.
The Energy banked on another explosive performance by import Michael Singletary and key contribution of rookie guard Eman Monfort as they fended off the Air21 Express, 103-94, for a second straight win Sunday.
A week earlier, Singletary and Monfort also provided the lift as Barako Bull nipped the Meralco Bolts, 90-89.
It could have been a 3-0 start for the Energy had they not been beaten by the Talk n Text Tropang Texters in overtime on Aug. 16.
Is Barako for real? The Energy’s game against the Kings could be an indication.
LA Tenorio marked his return to the Ginebra fold churning out a 34-point game as the Kings rapped the Meralco Bolts, 98-85, Saturday.
“The team’s mindset was to get that first win. Alam namin maigsi ang tournament at mahirap mabaon sa ilalim. Yun din ang mindset ko,” said Tenorio after the game.
Given a special plaque at halftime for his Gilas participation, Tenorio returned ablaze in the second half, torching the Bolts with 13 points in the third quarter.
Aguilar made his presence felt, contributing 13 points.
The 6-foot-9 center/forward is only expected to do better after getting more practice sessions with the team.
The Energy try to catch up with the Petron Blaze Boosters at 3-1 while the Kings aim to tie the GlobalPort Batang Pier at 2-1. (SB)
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