Torion back as spark for Barako

Jimwell Torion returned from suspension with a bang as he helped Red Bull Barako survive a tough Talk n Text side, 106-104, yesterday in the Gran Matador PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Back after a five-month absence, Torion, 28, came off the bench to chip in 17 points on top of two rebounds and two assists as the Barako clinched a sixth win in 10 outings that moved them inside the magic four and closer to leaders San Miguel Beermen (9-1) and Alaska Aces (7-3).

"We wouldn’t have done it without Jimwell. That’s the kind of help he gives, so you can imagine how much we missed him," said Red Bull coach Joseller "Yeng" Guiao, whose chargers avenged 90-95 loss to the Phone Pals in their first meeting last Feb. 25 also at the Dome.

Torion was actually suspended for eight months following a dangerous clothesline tackle on Talk n Text guard Jimmy Alapag in a playoff game last Nov. 19 but was shortened to five months by commissioner Noli Eala for humanitarian reasons.

But Red Bull also drew tremendous performance from its resurgent frontline of Davonn Harp, Mick Pennisi and Enrico Villanueva.

Four days after powering his team to a 94-90 overtime win over Purefoods despite playing importless, Harp was on attack mode again as he exploded with 25 points, two less than his output in the previous game, on top of 19 rebounds and eight assists.

Pennisi, for his part, added 14 markers, 12 of them coming from behind the three-point arc, while Villanueva contributed 12 points including eight in the fourth quarter when he and the tandem of Pennisi and Harp limited Asi Taulava to only four points in the fourth period.

Taulava, who had 22 points in the night, had a chance to win for the Pals but his three-point attempt from the right baseline rattled out of the rim as time expired, sending the Phone Pals to their second straight loss and fifth setback overall against six triumphs.

Corey Hightower, who replaced De Angelo Collins for the franchise’s fifth import this conference, debuted with just 12 points but made an impact on the team with his all-around game.

"I believe he could be the import we want. He’s smart player, he can make outside shots and most importantly, he gives our big men space to operate inside," said Guiao of Hightower, picked 54th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in 2000 but was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for future second round pick.

In the other game, Mark Sanford bounced back from a lowly 12-point output in a loss to Sta. Lucia last Thursday with a 37-point splurge as Coca-Cola survived a stubborn FedEx, 95-89, to remain at third spot with a 7-4 (win-loss) slate.

It was the Express’ seventh setback against three triumphs, the same record by Barangay Ginebra, Sta. Lucia and Purefoods.