Monday, November 03, 2008 Coca-Cola Tigers outhustle Red Bull Barakos for third win
MANILA—The Coca-Cola Tigers banked on their heft and height advantage to beat Red Bull, 97-92, yesterday in the 34th KFC-PBA Philippine Cup elimination round at the Araneta Coliseum.
Six-foot-9 Asi Taulava and Mark Telan, Nick Belasco and John Arigo led the Tigers’ offense in the final half to secure their third win in seven matches.
“It’s a big win for us. We have to work harder to really get out of the bottom of the standing. It was our defense that really made the difference,” said Alex Cabagnot.
With the win, which is interim coach Kenneth Duremdes’ second since taking over the bench from Benky Favis last week, enabled the Tigers to forge a five-way tie from fifth to ninth position along with Red Bull, Purefoods, Talk ‘N Text and Air 21.
“We were expecting a tight game but if we really played together as a team we have a good future,” said Duremdes, whose fate as head coach will be finalized next week upon the arrival of team manager J.B. Baylon from abroad.
Four-game roll
Taulava topscored for the Tigers with 17 points and nine rebounds and three assists, while Alex Cabagnot finished with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.
Rookie Larry Rordriguez led the Barakos with 15, Jojo Duncil and Paolo Hibalde settled with 13 apiece, while Leo Najorda fired 11 points.
A quick 11-0 run by the Barakos, who were aiming to become only the third team in the conference to win four straight games, enabled them to take a 29-25 advantage in the first period.
But Taulava, who averages 20.7 points and 12.5 rebounds a game, dominated both in the offensive and defensive boards to stop Red Bull’s run-and-gun game.
Full throttle
And with the help of 6-foot-6 Telan, the overpowering Tigers’ desire to get out of the cellar finally went full throttle to douse cold water to the Barakos’ offense as they regained the lead, 46-43, still 4:34 remaining in the second period.
Cesar Catli and Cabagnot fired a triple each to widen the gap, 60-47, at the half, which the Tigers kept until the buzzer. (FCC)
