Barako Bull off to best-ever 3-0 start

MANILA: Coach Koy Banal knows what this means to the Barako Bull franchise.
“The goal was really three-in-a-row,” Banal said on Sunday night, moments after his Energy clipped newcomer KIA Motors, 95-86 in the Commissioner’s Cup that sealed Barako Bull’s best-ever PBA start at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
“This hasn’t happened to Barako (Bull) for a long time,” Banal went on after getting 26 points, 20 rebounds and eight shot blocks from hardworking import Sol Alabi. “This game was all about playing good defense and making the right decisions.”
With a 3-0 record, Barako Bull caught idle Meralco and defending champion Purefoods at the top of the standings, their chances of advancing certainly looking rosy at this point even after suiting up an import who made no ripples during the pre-season.
Alabi has made all his hard work on the floor do all the talking, hitting 12 of his total in the fourth quarter, including some clutch free throws, as the Energy sent the Carnival crashing back down to Mother Earth.
After shooting down reigning Philippine Cup champion San Miguel Beer, 88-78, last week, the Carnival took the floor with much confidence, more so after Manny Pacquiao, the legendary boxing star, rejoined the squad and called the shots.
But unlike in that game against the rock-solid Beermen, there wasn’t any endgame magic for the Carnival this time.
“Talo talaga,” moaned Pacquiao, the eight-division world champion who called the shots for the first time in the conference.
KIA dropped to 1-3 and out of the magic circle of eight teams that will advance if the playoffs were to start today.
Barako Bull led by as many as 15 points in the first half and was up, 74-64, with eight minutes remaining before KIA made one final push through 7-foot-3 Puerto Rican import PJ Ramos.
Ramos scored 17 points in the fourth quarter – half of his game total, and helped the Carnival creep to within 71-74.
But the Barako Bull defense anchored on Alabi shut down Ramos in the final two minutes to seal the deal.
Ramos also finished with 20 rebounds like Alabi.
Veteran slasher JC Intal finished with 18 points to back up Alabi, while point guard JR Buensuceso and LA Revilla added 14 and 10 points, respectively, for the Carnival.
While the Energy continued to be the surprise package of the tournament, San Miguel continued to grope for form, bowing to sister team Barangay Ginebra, 95-82, in the nightcap.
Michael Dunigan scored 29 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, helping the Gin Kings play with complete control practically all game to snap a two-game losing streak and climb out of their cellar at 1-2.
San Miguel, less than three weeks after clipping Alaska in a best-of-seven Philippine Cup Finals for the ages, dropped a second straight game despite getting a huge lift from import Ronald Roberts Jr.
Roberts fired 31 points that went with 14 rebounds and five blocks, but the best all-Filipino team in the field again failed to give support, with superstars Arwind Santos and reigning MVP June Mar Fajardo coming up with mediocre efforts.
Fajardo, who was also named the Philippine Cup’s Best Player, was good for just nine points, while Santos, the MVP two seasons ago and who was the Game 7 hero for the Beermen against Alaska, chipped in with only six.
Ginebra coach Ato Agustin attributed their first win to the fact that they were able to play the way they have been practicing.
“Our running game is back,” Agustin proudly proclaimed.
Greg Slaughter had 18 points and Mark Caguioa 14 for the Gin Kings, who were in the Finals of this tournament two seasons ago against Alaska.