Energized Barako five demolishes Talk n Text

MANILA, Philippines - Barako Bull broke a tedious 13-game losing skid to Talk n Text last night, pulling off an amazing 100-86 victory in the 2011-12 PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

With tremendous boost from their new recruits, the Energy surprisingly dominated the reigning champion Tropang Texters, leading by as many as 22 points in the wire-to-wire victory – the Lina franchise’s first in their last 14 games with the Smart-PLDT ball club.

Willie Miller poured in his biggest output in the last five conferences with 27 points while Mick Pennisi had his largest number in the last seven tourneys with 18 in leading the Energy to a follow-up to their 88-75 lashing of the Ginebra Kings Friday that snapped a 12-game overall skid.

“It was all because of our good ball movement,” said Miller, playing inspired basketball after his transfer from Ginebra.

“All players have the license to shoot under coach Junel Baculi’s system. The rookies got the open looks and delivered in our last game. The veterans had their turns today,” Miller added.

Baculi, meanwhile, gave credit to his players as they improved to 2-1 for joint third with their victims.

“The guys played tough defense and showed great composure when Talk n Text was mounting a rally,” said Baculi.

“The veterans were willing to work on defense and were willing to share the ball. And one game or another, Miller will explode; this is that game,” Baculi added.

Baculi rotated with almost equal minutes 10 players, enabling the team to sustain a searing pace after jumping the gun on the Texters, opening an early double-digit spread at 14-4.

“We have to manage the minutes of our not very young players,” said Baculi alluding to key players Pennisi, Miller, Don Allado, Dorian Peña and Wynne Arboleda who are all in their 30s.

Danny Seigle, out with a strained calf muscle, is also in his 30s.

The veterans prevailed over TnT’s young crew as they shot better and worked harder on the other fronts of the game.

Fired-up by a near fight at the end of the first half, Rain or Shine went on a searing third-quarter breakaway and held on for an 89-84 win over Meralco in the second game.

The Elasto Painters stepped up their game after a tight first half marred at the end by a commotion sparked by a collision between Asi Taulava and Jervy Cruz.

The Painters were meaner and better at the resumption of play, building a huge lead enough to withstand the Bolts’ endgame rally.

Dylan Ababou, Barako’s crack rookie, had his contribution with 20 points, seven rebounds and one assist.

The scores:

First Game

Barako 100 – Miller 27, Ababou 20, Pennisi 18, Allado 9, Maliksi 8, Najorda 6, Artadi 4, Arboleda 3, Pena 3, Salvacion 2, Salvador 0.

Talk n Text 86 – Castro 23, Reyes 16, Dillinger 10, Aban 10, Peek 8, Fonacier 6, Carey 6, Aguilar 4, Alapag 3, Raymundo 0, Alvarez 0, Lao 0.

Quarterscores: 25-11, 52-33, 71-62, 100-86

Second Game

Rain or Shine 89 – Norwood 14, Chan 14, Lee 12, Rodriguez 11, Buenafe 9, Matias 8, Belga 6, Quinahan 6, Ibanes 5, Arana 4, Cruz 0.

Meralco 84 – Macapagal 20, Espinas 19, Taulava 16, Lanete 14, Isip 6, Borboran 5, Ballesteros 2, Omolon 2, Timberlake 0, Yee 0.

Quarterscores: 22-21, 41-40, 71-49, 89-84