ONE MORE TOUGH TEST FOR UNBEATEN ENERGY
Barako Bull has been the biggest revelation so far in PBA Season 39.
The Energy expect a tough test against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters but they are determined to get going and stay among the unbeaten frontrunners in the PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup.
Barako Bull and Rain or Shine are pitted in the 5:15 p.m. main game at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Sunday night – the start of the December stretch of the elimination phase of the all-Filipino tourney.
Despite a 2-0 roll versus Air21 and Alaska, Barako Bull coach Bong Ramos considers his team the underdog versus Rain or Shine.
“Rain or Shine is a strong and tough team. If we can match their toughness and physicality then we have a chance to upset them,” said Ramos.
Neither is Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao taking Barako Bull lightly, believing the Energy have got what it takes to compete.
“We need to bring down their three-point shooting percentage. They’re just too hot from the outside,” said Guiao noting the torrid shooting Barako used to torch Alaska, 97-93, last Sunday.
“We need to apply a lot of ball pressure or extend our defense. It might open up our middle and make us vulnerable to their inside game, but it’s a risk we have to take. Looks like a high scoring match which is good for us,” Guiao also said.
Before pulling the rug from under the Aces, the Energy topped the Air21 Express, 88-75, in their season debut.
In the pre-season, Barako Bull was much maligned for its surprise moves on Draft day. But no one is laughing now.
The Elasto Painters also got to a 2-0 start in the season before running into the vastly improved Barangay Ginebra San Miguel team also last Sunday.
Mark Caguioa scattered 22 points while the towering frontcourt duo of Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter combined for 37 makers and 23 boards as the Kings reigned over the E-Painters, 97-84.
Barako Bull, meanwhile, unloaded a barrage of three-pointers as it rallied from 15 points down early in the fourth quarter en route to its four-point decision over Alaska.
Ronjay Buenafe and Mick Pennisi both went 3-of-3 from beyond the arc in the payoff period as against Alaska’s 0-of-6 clip as the Energy continued to prove their detractors wrong, nailing a follow-up on their triumphant season debut versus the Express.
Buenafe finished with seven treys in all and a two-year personal best of 27 points, including an acrobatic shot off heavy traffic that pushed Barako Bull ahead to stay at 95-93 with 33.7 ticks left.
On Sunday, Buenafe and his teammates hope to keep their perfect slate in the tourney. (SB)
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