MANILA - The Red Bull Barakos successfully repulsed the challenge of the Coca-Cola Tigers as they carved a 116-99 win yesterday to keep their hope for a semifinal slot alive in the 2007 Smart-PBA Philippine Cup.
Playing with well-balanced scoring with four players tallying double figures, the Barakos showed enough determination all throughout to notch their 10th win in 17 matches and tie idle Alaska at third.
“What we were trying to do today was actually just to improve our standing and remain strong. It showed we have slowly regained our confidence after absorbing back-to-back setbacks,” said Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao.
Even if the Barakos won in their penultimate game, it’s not yet enough for them to at least gain a playoff against second ranked Sta. Lucia for the second automatic semifinal slot.
They have still to hurdle their last assignment against Purefoods on Jan. 16 and hope the Realtors drop their last game against Air21 on Jan. 13 to at least figure in a two-way tie in the team standing at the end of the elimination.
The Alaska Aces may also finish with the same win-loss slate if they win against Purefoods on Friday and lose to the Realtors.
“We had a good rest after Christmas and it helped us improved our game today, hopefully we can win our last game against Purefoods,” said Mick Pennisi.
The 6-foot-8 Pennisi top-scored for the Barakos with 29 points on top of nine rebounds and three assists, while Junthy Valenzuela finished with 22 points, six rebounds and four assists. Cyrus Baguio scored 21 and hauled down six rebounds and also had six assists, while Mike Hrabak, who scored 17 points, made a record 100 percent clip from the three-point area, going five of five.
Asi Taulava led the Tigers scorers with 24, while Alex Cabagnot had 17.
“It’s really a tall order but let us see what will happen. Our game also today is at least our preparation against Purefoods. We know the consequence of the coming game,” said Guiao.
Both the Barakos and the Tigers, who were playing in their last two matches in the elimination round, fought closely hard in the first two periods, having four lead changes and six deadlocks before Baguio connected three straight baskets to put Red Bull on top, 61-53, at the end of the half.
But it was the Fil-Italian Pennisi who actually wrought havoc against Tigers defense when he fired five triples, the last from the right corner that tied the match, 50-50, with still 3:15 in the second period. (FCC)
