BARAKO BULL LOOKING TO KEEP HOLD OF TOP SPOT AGAINST GLOBALPORT
GLOBALPORT head coach Pido Jarencio has been searching for consistency from his team on both ends of the court.
Barako Bull is aiming to come in and offer a few pointers when the Energy clash with the Batang Pier Sunday in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Barako Bull is looking to pad its lead over idle San Miguel Beer and move closer to realizing a top four finish at the end of the single round-robin eliminations and has shown it has both the tools and game to achieve its goal.
GlobalPort has its own weapons but getting them to work as one on a regular basis is Jarencio’s main concern.
“We need consistency (Sunday) on our defense and offense. Focus on our defensive rules and fluidity on offense,” said Jarencio on the eve of the tussle.
The Batang Pier do need to show stability against an Energy crew that has been the epitome of consistency.
After getting off to a franchise-best 4-0 start then absorbing a first loss against San Miguel Beer, Barako Bull rebounded in a big way by overhauling an early deficit and thumping Rain or Shine, 112-103, last Sunday.
GlobalPort has shown its own poise and grit earlier in the tournament when it opened up at 3-0, but has since then lost three of its last four matches, including a 108-111 overtime thriller to Barangay Ginebra last Wednesday.
How the Batang Pier recover and the Energy can fend them off should make for an exciting spectacle.
One sidelight should be the clash between the two teams’ giants, with Barako Bull’s Liam McMorrow averaging 27.3 points, 23.0 rebounds and GlobalPort own 7-footer, Jarrid Famous, notching PBA career highs of 39 points and 28 rebounds in the Ginebra game to jack his three-game averages to 30.7 and 20.7.
They are the two leading rebounders overall this conference and are two of the Top 5 scorers overall.
As gripping should be the battles outside the shaded lane, where the likes of Terrence Romeo, Omar Krayem and Stanley Pringle would be aiming to connect from deep and thus stretch their foes’ defenses.
Barako Bull has its own dreaded snipers in Joseph Yeo, RR Garcia and JC Intal. Yeo has been spectacular of late, averaging 24 points and 4.6 assists the last three games while Garcia is coming off a career 26-point game against Rain or Shine.
As a result, both Intal and Yeo are currently among the Top 5 players in the hunt for Best Player of the Conference honors. (NC)
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.
