Barako Bull vs Shopinas.com Clickers

Red-hot Barako Bull performed even better, as expected, ranged against struggling newcomer Shopinas.com, making it three in a row with a 96-78 victory tonight in the 2011 12 PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Energy sustained their bullish run, imposing their will versus the Clickers curiously after a bench-clearing incident early in the second quarter.

Barako gained a share of second place with Rain or Shine at 3-1 after the emphatic win in a game marred by a melee involving coach Junel Baculi, Barako center Dorian Pena and Shopinas slotman Homer Se.

Hearing a mouthful from Baculi, Se attacked the Barako coach but was tackled down by Pena. Both Se and Pena were thrown out of the game while Baculi was assessed a technical foul.

The Energy buckled down to work at the resumption of play, pulling away from a 21-18 edge and sending the Clickers reeling with a fourth loss in as many games.

“I think the players got fired-up,” said Baculi.

“I want to set the record straight. I was talking to the referees, telling them to look at what Se’s doing. Then he reacted that way,” Baculi said on the incident.

The Barako mentor mentioned Leo Najorda, Allein Maliksi and Dylan Ababou getting hurt.

“I don’t know if it’s an indication of anything,” he said.

“We played three tough games and nobody got injured. Now we had a light game and everybody’s hurt. But it’s okay. It’s basketball. We’ll play over it and nurse our injuries,” Baculi added.

Fired-up, the Energy erected a 50-33 lead at the half and never let up, running the show in the entire final half.

Barako had another well-balanced offense with five players – Sunday Salvacion, Willie Miller, Najorda, Wynne Arboleda and Don Allado – finishing in double figures.

Allado scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds with two off the offensive board, putting him one board shy of 1,000 career offensive caroms.

A split by Allado from the line with a minute to go in the third quarter gave Barako its biggest lead at 74-43.

Arboleda converted two of three three-point attempts and three of five two-point tries to spearhead a spirited second-quarter run enabling Barako to pull away at the half.

Miller had his moments in the second and third quarters, finishing with 13 points, eight assists and two rebounds in a follow-up to his 27-point game versus Talk n Text Wednesday.