MANILA — Barako Bull is back. Facing outright elimination after six straight losses, the Barako Bull Energy Cola bounced back into playoffs contention with a 105-100 conquest of the defending champion San Mig Cofee Mixers Sunday night in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the MOA Arena. It was actually the second straight time that the Energy Cola had defeated the Mixers, having won their first meeting in the conference last Feb. 8, 79-75. The win improved Barako Bull's record to a 4-7 win-loss mark, still at second to last place in the rankings but just a game behind San Mig Coffee and Air21 (both at 5-6) and a game and half behind Barangay Ginebra, Talk ‘N Text, and Meralco (all at 5-5). Barako Bull consultant Rajko Toroman expressed confidence his team could still make it to the playoffs. “We have three more games left against Petron, Globalport and Rain or Shine, and we're just a win behind the fourth placer,” he said. The game was close for three quarters until the Energy Cola suddenly caught fire in the final canto, draining back-to-back three pointers to erect a 100-88 lead. Barako Bull shot 12-of-28 from beyond the arc for a high 42.9 percent clip. Import Evan Brock sparkled for 25 points while Josh Urbiztondo blasted his former team for 22 points including 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc. Allein Maliksi and Mick Pennisi also caught fire, combining for five of six three-point attempts to finish with 19 points each. Pennisi scored 13 of his points in the fourth quarter during the Barako Bull run. With three minutes left, the Energy Cola still led 98-85. But the Mixers launched a searing rally, cutting the Energy Cola's lead to just two points, 102-100, with 24 seconds left. San Mig Coffee sent Barako Bull rookie Emman Monfort, playing in his first PBA game, to the line. Monfort split his free throws, giving San Mig Coffee a chance to tie the game with still 19 seconds left. But Denzel Bowles lost the ball as Josh Urbiztondo and Sean Anthony sealed the game for Barako Bull by splitting their free throws. Bowles led the Mixers with 24 points and 18 rebounds. James Yap and Peter June Simon added 22 and 21 points respectively. In the first match of the Sunday double-header, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters snapped the Air21 Express' four-game winning streak with a 94-83 victory. The win allowed the E-Painters to join the Alaska Aces at the top of the standings, both with an 8-3card. Despite getting into foul trouble once again, import Bruno Sundov led his team with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Ryan Arana and Jeff Chan added 16 and 13 points respectively. It was a repeat win for Rain or Shine as the E-Painters also nipped the Express, 99-97, the first time they met last Feb. 22. Although scoring only two points, Beau Belga played a key role in the Rain or Shine victory by snatching seven rebounds and handcuffing Air21's Michael Dunigan, limiting the prolific import to just three points in the final period. Dunigan still had game-highs of 34 points and 15 rebounds despite his severely limited production in the final quarter. Nino Canaleta added 12 points for the Express who appeared to be in control of the game early on, leading by seven, 60-53, in the third quarter.
