BARAKO BULL STAYS ON TOP
Barako Bull proved itself more than just an undercard in Sunday’s much-awaited Manila Clasico game between the league’s two most popular teams, repulsing GlobalPort, 123-114, to fortify its stronghold of top spot in the 2015 PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Energy continued to shock the league with its sixth win in seven outings, pulling them closer to one of the top four slots in the quarterfinals which comes with the coveted twice-to-beat advantage, something Barako Bull has never had in its 13-year franchise history.
Liam McMorrow continued to lead Barako Bull this conference, this time tallying another huge double-double with his 41 points and 27 rebounds as the Energy racked up another win to their cap.
Joseph Yeo was also stellar in the victory, scoring 19 markers and dishing off 10 assists, while JC Intal and Carlo Lastimosa added 14 points apiece.
“I thought we did a good job in taking it into our formula. That’s our positive attitude,” said Barako Bull head coach Koy Banal.
“We were down but the boys really wanted it. I have to give it to them,” he said. “Everybody, from the players to the coaches, worked so hard for this game.”
After Ronjay Buenafe put GlobalPort up, 91-89 early in the fourth, Barako Bull unleashed a 15-4 run steered by Dylan Ababou’s two treys to put the Energy up 104-95, with 5:48 left in the game.
The Batang Pier still tried to recover behind Stanley Pringle and Omar Krayem and inched to just four off the lead, 114-110 with 1:15 remaining. However, GlobalPort could not secure a board which led to Yeo, Willy Wilson, and McMorrow shutting the door on the Batang Pier, who dropped their second straight game and fell to 4-4.
Jarrid Famous paced the losers with 32 points and 22 boards, while Terrence Romeo added 30 markers and six dimes.
Stanley Pringle also had 16 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in the defeat. (RL)
The scores:
BARAKO BULL 123 – McMorrow 41, Yeo 19, Lastimosa 14, Intal 14, Garcia 10, Wilson 9, Lanete 6, Ababou 6, Pascual 4, Chua 0, Maierhofer 0.
GLOBALPORT 114 – Famous 32, Romeo 30, Pringle 16, Krayem 11, Buenafe 8, Kramer 8, Mamaril 4, Semerad 3, Ponferada 2, Hayes 0, Jensen 0.
Quarterscores: 27-20, 45-50, 87-80, 123-114.
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