BARAKO BULL GRABS SHARE OF LEAD
Import Michael Singletary and rookie guard Eman Monfort continued to do wonders for Barako Bull.
With yet another superb efforts from the two, the Energy Cola streaked to a third straight win, drubbing the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 104-91, in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.
Singletary collected 38 points and 17 rebounds while Monfort contributed 25 markers, two rebounds, two assists and two steals as the Energy Cola regained a piece of the lead with the Petron Blaze Boosters at 3-1.
The Kings, meanwhile, dropped in the lower half of the chart with a second loss in three starts.
They didn’t start well in the game and suffered a terrible blow late in the first period with Japeth Aguilar sustaining a knee injury.
“We did well in the pre-season and we’re showing that we’re really a competitive team,” said Barako Bull coach Rajko Toroman.
“We had some problem in the beginning of the fourth. The rest, we were in full control. We can expect a lot from Barako,” Toroman also said.
The Energy Cola were mean in this game, dominating the Kings almost throughout.
As in their previous wins, Singletary and Monfort led the way for the Energy Cola, with both outworking and outplaying their Ginebra counterparts.
Surprising was Monfort upstaging Gilas Pilipinas mainstay LA Tenorio.
“Role player lang dapat ako, di ko rin ma-explain,” said Monfort of what he’s been showing in the tourney.
The former Ateneo player went 5-of-10 from the three-point area, 4-of-9 from the two-point zone and 2-of-3 from the stripe in putting in a second career-best output in their last two games.
In their 90-89 decision over Meralco on Aug. 18, the pint-sized player from Iloilo delivered 21 points.
Tenorio struggled with his shots, winding up with just four points. He, however, dished out eight assists and grabbed seven rebounds in 36 minutes of action.
Ginebra import Dior Lowhorn couldn’t perk up the Kings, and neither MVP awardees Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand.
The Kings put up a semblance of a fight early in the fourth but failed to sustain their effort.
Ronjay Buanafe scored on a short stab then Monfort banged away a trey and struck on a fastbreak as Barako again widened the gap at 94-80 with 4:50 left to play. (SB)
The scores:
Barako 104 – Singletary 38, Monfort 25, Buenafe 15, Seigle 10, Marcelo 5, Cruz 3, Pena 3, Intal 2, Pennisi 2, Macapagal 1, Jensen 0.
Ginebra 91 – Lowhorn 30, Mamaril 14, Caguioa 13, Baracael 11, Wilson 7, Tenorio 4, Helterbrand 4, Urbiztondo 3, Ellis 2, Labagala 2, Aguilar 1, Ababou 0, Maierhofer 0.
Quarters: 26-22, 50-42, 85-67, 104-91
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