Saturday, May 24, 2008 New import tows Coke to easy win over Red Bull
MANILA - The Coca-Cola Tigers celebrated the debut of new import Donald Copeland with an impressive 102-80 win over erstwhile solo leader Red Bull yesterday in the 2008 Smart-PBA Fiesta Conference at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.
The 6-foot-9 Dixon led the Tigers fiery onslaught from start to the finish en route to their seventh win in 11 matches and forged a three-way tie at the top of the standing with their victim Coca-Cola and idle Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals.
Dixon, the former Liberty University standout in Colorado, was hot all day, firing a game-high 33 points on top of 16 rebounds and four steals. He was also consistent in the free throw area, hitting 13 of 15 attempts.
Copeland, who replaced George Gervin Jr., was not a disappointment at all in his first game with the Tigers, who avenged a 75-82 setback to the Barakos on April 30.
The 5-foot-9 Copeland, who played with Seton Hall University in the US NCAA, settled with 14 points, which is not a bad start for a newcomer according to Coca-Cola coach Benky Favis.
It was a well-balanced game for the Tigers as three others finished with double figures. Among them was 6-foot-9 Asi Taulava, who made 12 points, while Mark Macapagal added 11 and rookie Ronjay Buenafe had 10.
Cyrus Baguio topscored for the Barakos with 21 points and Adam Parada made 20.
The Barakos, seeking their 8th win to keep the solo lead, jumped to an early 41-32 upperhand on a three-point play by Cyrus Baguio off a foul by Buenafe with still 5:21 remaining in the second period. They kept the 7-point lead, 48-41, at the end of the half. (FCC)
