RED-HOT-FROM-RAINBOW-COUNTRY BARAKO BULL SURPRISES ALASKA

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THERE’S no doubting Barako Bull’s authenticity as a major force now.

With Ronjay Buenafe coming up with a magical shot in the endgame, the Energy Cola snapped out of Alaska’s spell and with a 97-93 win Sunday for their second victory in as many games in the PLDT myDSL-PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The twinner that came off a spin move from the baseline not only capped Buenafe’s game-high 27 points but also gave Barako the upperhand at 95-93, which proved to be for good as Alaska failed to connect in its next two possessions and JC Intal and Willie Miller provided additional difference with charity splits.

It marked only the first time in four meetings since last season that Barako Bull won over Alaska and the second time in the last three conferences that the Energy got off to a 2-0 start.

Head coach Bong Ramos said his team’s ability to adapt on the fly made it all possible.

“At the start of the third (quarter) they had a good adjustment but in the fourth we adjusted also,” stated Ramos, whose team opened up the season with an 88-75 victory over Air21 last Wednesday.

“I’m happy my players responded sa adjustments na ginawa namin because we all know basketball is a game of execution and adjustments,” he added.

Most notable of said adjustments were the Energy Cola’s going small in the last five minutes and their pressuring Aces playmaker JVee Casio, preventing the latter from getting the ball down low to the likes of Sonny Thoss and Gabby Espinas.

The loss was the second in three games for Alaska, notwithstanding the 20 points of Cyrus Baguio, the double-doubles submitted by Thoss and Espinas and Casio’s 12 points and seven assists.

The Aces actually seemed well on their way to victory after posting two 15-point leads, the last at 80-65, 9:49 to go in the game.

Then Barako Bull’s hands started waxing hot anew, just like what it did in razing an early 8-0 deficit and taking control of majority of the rest of the first half.

The Energy Cola boomed in seven triples over the next seven minutes, with Mick Pennisi and Buenafe accounting for three triples each, the last making it 91-89, 2:15 left.

Thoss kept the Aces on even keel with charities and a jumper, the last at 93.

Then came Buenafe’s basket consummated against Espinas’ help defense.

In all, Barako Bull made 29 of 75 shots, including an astounding 17-for-39 from beyond the arc, the second all-time most triples made in a game in franchise history, next only to its 19 in a 118-113 OT loss to Talk ‘N Text last Aug. 16.

Mark Isip, despite battling foul trouble throughout, finished the game with 12 points, making up for the loss of Denok Miranda to a left calf muscle strain, still 8:59 left in the game.(NC)

The scores:

Barako Bull 97 – Buenafe 27, Isip 12, Jensen 9, Intal 9, Pennisi 9, Miller 8, Macapagal 5, Wilson 4, Villanueva 4, Miranda 4, Labagala 3, Pena 3.

Alaska 93 – Baguio 20, Thoss 16, Espinas 15, Casio 12, Jazul 9, Abueva 9, Avenido 4, Ramos 4, Hontiveros 2, Eman 2, Belasco 0, Dela Cruz 0.

Quarterscores: 21-16, 44-40, 63-76, 97-93 

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