Warning: Undefined variable $column_strips in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 78
TEXTERS BRACE FOR TOUGH ENERGY CHALLENGE
Warning: Undefined variable $column_strips in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 153
Warning: Undefined variable $nocontent in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 236
Warning: Undefined variable $iscovid in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 239
Warning: Undefined variable $FEAT_STORIES in /var/www/pba/single2017/addfunction-ondemand-gitlab-taboola.php on line 685
Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, bool given in /var/www/pba/single2017/addfunction-ondemand-gitlab-taboola.php on line 688
Warning: Undefined array key 0 in /var/www/pba/single2017/addfunction-ondemand-gitlab-taboola.php on line 730
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)
Warning: Undefined array key "TESTPAGE" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 254
Warning: Undefined array key "fb" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 280
Warning: Undefined variable $thinq in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 318
Warning: Undefined variable $var_sports_vlurb in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 328
Warning: Undefined variable $mindanaoQuake2019 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 442
Warning: Undefined variable $showSolicit_batanes in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 459
Warning: Undefined variable $seagames in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 475
Warning: Undefined variable $tokyoOlympics2020 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 481
Warning: Undefined variable $help_taal in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 490
Warning: Undefined variable $help_ompong in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 525
Warning: Undefined variable $elections_2019 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 538
Warning: Undefined variable $typhoon_2018_redirect in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 543
Warning: Undefined variable $ncov2020 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 555
Warning: Undefined variable $tyhoon2020_marthon in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 578
Warning: Undefined variable $dotnet23 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 585
Warning: Undefined variable $suicide in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 595
Warning: Undefined variable $yearend2020 in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 600
Warning: Undefined array key "inqplus_test" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 609
Warning: Undefined array key "newreadnext" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 664
Warning: Undefined array key "test" in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 802
EDITORS' PICK
Warning: Undefined variable $data_for_HompageFG_obj in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 816
Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, null given in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 819
Warning: Undefined variable $MR_data_for_obj in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 850
Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, null given in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 850
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
Warning: Undefined variable $bc_tag in /var/www/pba/single2017/body-gitlab.php on line 1239
