MANILA, 11 May 2004 — Red Bull drubbed Coca-Cola, 99-90, on Sunday to fan their bid for a possible No. 4 spot after the double round-robin eliminations in the Gran Matador PBA Fiesta Conference at the PhilSports Arena. Leaning on imports Victor Thomas and Davonn Harp, the Barako improved their standings to 8-6 (win-loss record).
Thomas, who is the sixth foreign import of the Barako in this conference, came up with a double-double of 25 markers and 11 rebounds on his second appearance while Red Bull’s mainstay Harp added 23 points 11 rebounds and four assists.
The Tigers, on the other hand, were joined by idle Alaska at second spot at 9-5 apiece. San Miguel lead with a 12-2 card.
The game of import Mark Sanford, who averages 30 points per game and 13.2 rebounds, was drained of its usual color as he could only afford to make a dent in the first quarter with 14 of his total 20 points. Jeffrey Cariaso and Reynel Hugnatan were the only locals who posted double figures at 19 and 12 markers, respectively.
Not only did the Barako outscore their foes but also ruled the boards, 59-44.
The Barako resolve to get these rebounds, however, resulted Homer Se’s flagrant foul and ejection with 9:03 left in the first canto.
Aiming for a defensive rebound after Hugnatan scored from the paint, 7-10, Se ran into Sanford and the Filipino retaliated with a 45 degree kick. But despite the absence of one of their defensive specialists, the Barako never gave up and even went to register their biggest lead of 89-74 behind a pair of rainbow shots by rookie Denver Lopez and second team member Lordy Tugade.
Lopez had six points overall while Tugade rifled 12 points at the end of four cantos. But what really hastened the Tigers’ downfall was poor field goal shooting. Coke muffed 55 of the 82.
In the other game, crowd darling Barangay Ginebra left Purefoods TJ Hotdogs with little room to operate as it hacked out a 117-89 victory for its sixth triumph in 14 matches, enough to clinch it a spot at joint sixth with Sta. Lucia Realty. Torraye Braggs, who last played for the Houston Rockets in last year’s NBA season, led the carnage with a near triple-double — 30 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists — although Jay Helterbrand stole some of the thunder with his best effort thus far this conference with 16 points.
