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Monday, January 30, 2006
Barakos, PF take 3-1 leads
By Jade S. Violeta
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
RED BULL used sheer determination in overcoming a huge challenge in the endgame as the Barakos nailed a come-from-behind 88-85 Game 4 victory yesterday over the Ginebra Gin Kings to move just a win shy of bagging the first finals seat in the San Mig Coffee PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.
In the maingame, Purefoods Chunkee Giants likewise erected a 3-1 series lead over Air 21 Express with a 100-90 win.
The victory gave Red Bull a 3-1 series lead in their best-of-seven semifinals series.
Down by eight points, 77-85, in the last two minutes and 33 seconds of the game, the Barakos unleashed a searing 11-to-0 blitzkrieg anchored on Enrico “Raging Bull” Villanueva, who scored eight points in the rally, that left the Kings stunned and dazed as the buzzer sounded.
Best Player of the Game
Villanueva, who scored 10 of his 21 points in the crucial stretch and grabbed nine rebounds and blocked three shots, was adjudged Best Player of the Game even though rookie Larry Fonacier had another explosive scoring night as he had a new career-best 25 markers for the Barakos, a game after establishing his first career-best of 22 points in Game 2.
Red Bull appeared headed for disaster in the 4:20 mark of the final canto after import James Penny was ejected from the game following two technical fouls.
But after the Kings’ JJ Helterbrand buried a trey that erected an 81-74 Ginebra lead, the Kings’ import Chris Porter was slapped with his sixth and final foul that left both teams playing all-Filipino in the final 3:44 mark.
A split charity by Mick Pennissi with 2:17 to go and Ginebra leading by eight, marked the beginning of the end for Ginebra as Villanueva took charge.
The Kings were given the chance to retake the edge in the last 6.7 seconds with the score standing at 85-86 in favor of Red Bull but Ginebra’s Marc Caguioa missed a jumper on the left flank as Villanueva secured the rebound.
With 2.7 seconds to go, Ginebra was again given the chance to send the ballgame into overtime with a potential three-pointer but the Kings bungled the inbound throw and committed a turnover.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (January 30, 2006 issue)
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