MANILA — Regarded as a team of discards and has-beens, the Barako Bull Energy Cola confounded critics as they blew out the supposedly stronger and quicker Air21 Express, 88-75, Wednesday night in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. Criticized for trading away all their draft picks this year in exchange for veteran role players, Barako Bull showed one and all that its controversial moves were actually based on solid ground. The Energy Cola relied on the depth of experience of their veterans to quickly seize control of the game, never giving the Express any chance at all to threaten. “The players really want to prove something,” said new Barako Bull coach Bong Ramos, who took over from former national coach Rajko Toroman who quit his post just before the start of the season. “These players will pull surprises,” Ramos added. “Even me, their coach, was surprised.” Unheralded Mark Isip led the Energy Cola with 16 points while three other lightly regarded veterans scored in double digits – Ronjay Buenafe with 11 and Denok Miranda and Mark Macapagal with 10 points apiece. All 13 players fielded in by Ramos scored in the game. Barako Bull led by as many as 33 points against an Air21 squad bolstered by several key acquisitions in the offseason. The Energy Cola began the second quarter with a 9-0 run to take a 31-17 lead. They padded the lead to 20 points, 48-28, at the half. The veterans of Barako Bull continued their hot streak in the third quarter with a 15-3 run to pull away, 63-30. Air21 was led by Joseph Yeo who scored 22 points. KG Canaleta added 18 markers. The Express played minus their prized acquisition, former Meralco top gunner Mac Cardona, who was sidelined by injury.
Petron Blaze 97, GlobalPort 87 Despite missing the services of three key players — Alex Cabagnot, Chico Lanete and Ronald Tubid – the Petron Blaze Boosters pulled off an easy 97-87 win over the GlobalPort Batang Pier to begin their campaign in the all-Filipino conference on an emphatic note. Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter finished with 18 points apiece while reigning MVP Arwind Santos scored 16. Sophomore center June Mar Fajardo tallied 15 points and 16 rebounds. The absence of the three Boosters, all out because of injuries, was hardly felt as Petron dominated the match from start to finish against a Batang Pier team loaded with rookies. Sol Mercado led GlobalPort with 20 points while Jay Washington had 15 points and 15 rebounds. Former MVP and Barangay Ginebra center Eric Menk had six points and five rebounds in his PBA comeback for GlobalPort. Collegiate star Terrence Romeo finished with 13 points in his GlobalPort debut. Games Friday: Rain or Shine vs. Meralco Bolts; San Mig Coffee vs. Alaska Aces.
