Well-behaved Bull pricks Coke

ANTIPOLO CITY — Keeping its temper this time, Batang Red Bull subdued erstwhile co-leader Coca-Cola, 72-60, yesterday to grab the solo lead and book a quarterfinal seat in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center.

Tony Lang got away with 27 points, 11 coming in a pivotal second quarter run as the Thunder notched their fifth win in six matches before taking a 12-day break.

"We made a good mental adjustment by concentrating more on the game instead of being too emotional," said Red Bull coach Joseller "Yeng" Guiao.

The Thunder were coming off a bench-emptying incident involving San Miguel Beer’s Art Long last Thursday at the Cuneta Astrodome in a game they won, 78-73. The team was fined P210,000 for that incident.

Coca-Cola, on the other hand, had its lowest production since taking over the Pop Cola franchise this year and fell to its second loss against four wins.

Teaming up with Lordy Tugade, Lang ignited a torrid run that turned a 12-19 deficit to a 39-24 lead in the second quarter but an 8-0 Coca-Cola blast trimmed it down to seven, 32-43, late in the period.

From there, the Thunder unleashed two more offensive salvos connecting the second and third quarters and an intimidating defense that held the Tigers to a conference-low six points in the third quarter.

Meanwhile, Talk N Text snapped out of a two-game losing skein as it spoiled the Philippine debut of National Basketball Association veteran Chris Morris with a 109-92 triumph over Purefoods.