Red Bull stops Shell, enhances bid for No.1

Red Bull definitely wants more than just a quarterfinal slot.

Already assured of a seat in the next round, Red Bull refused to slow down last night, nailing its eighth straight win by beating an ousted but hard-fighting Shell, 91-81, at the Makati Coliseum.

Red Bull’s amazing streak is the longest so far in the PBA Reinforced Conference as it winds down the elimination round heading into the quarterfinals – a 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3 best-of-three affair for both groups.

With its 9-2 record, Red Bull still has a chance to land in the No. 1 position in Group B if it sweeps its last two games against fellow quarterfinalists Coca-Cola (11-1) and Talk N Text (6-5).

The winners in the quarterfinals from each group will then square off in a best-of-five semis to determine the two teams that will figure in the best-of-seven finals.

In Group A, only Sta. Lucia is assured of a quarterfinal slot with Alaska, San Miguel, FedEx and Purefoods still scrambling for the three remaining slots.

And Red Bull, as it is, wants to go all the way in Group B heading into the finals.

"Our last two games will be close. And the one against Coca-Cola will be a big test. We just have to work harder on defense," said Mick Pennisi who had 15 points and 11 rebounds against Shell which also to Red Bull in Palawan earlier in the conference.

Willie Miller, last year’s MVP, also lived up to expectations, scoring 22 points, grabbing four rebounds, issuing four assists and going a perfect 10-of-10 from the stripe.

Red Bull and Shell slugged it out in the first half with neither team pulling away. But it all changed in the third quarter when, after eight straight lead changes, Red Bull suddenly caught fire.

Import Scott Burrell hit two straight triples then had a dunk while Nelson Asaytono had a three-point play off Shell import Jamal Kendrick as Red Bull broke loose en route to a 70-57 lead entering the final quarter.

Lordy Tugade hit three triples in the final canto to help Red Bull post its biggest lead at 80-65, with six minutes left. Shell ran out of time trying to overhaul that deficit and fell for the fifth straight game and a 3-9 record. -Abac Cordero