Sizzling Energy spoil Pacquiao’s return, book 3rd straight win

MANILA, Philippines – Barako Bull, a team that had never won more than five games in a conference in the last three years, is now looking ready to shed its losing tag, with the Energy off to a blazing three-zero start in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Before a good weekend crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the Energy stoked the fire of back-to-back wins over the Blackwater Elite and the Barangay Ginebra Kings as they repelled the Kia Carnival, 95-86, for the franchise’s best start in a tourney since switching from Air21 to Barako Bull at the start of the 2012-13 PBA season.

Sol Alabi delivered a near triple-double performance with 26 points, 19 rebounds and eight blocks while JC Intal added 18 markers, four steals and three rebounds as Barako Bull spoiled Manny Pacquiao’s return on the Kia bench and thus caught up with Meralco and Purefoods Star atop the leaderboard at 3-0.

The Energy sent the Carnival back to earth four days after their 88-78 upset of the Philippine Cup champs San Miguel Beermen. Kia moved down to 1-3.

“The goal was to make it three in a row. Everybody agreed on that, and we achieved it by playing good defense and making good decisions down the stretch,” said Barako Bull coach Koy Banal.

“Kia is a different team from the first conference. Even before the start of the conference, we knew they’re gonna be different specially with their acquisition of Leo Avenido, JR Cawaling and Mark Yee. Coaches Manny Pacquiao and Chito Victolero are inspiring them to walk extra mile,” Banal also said.

“They gave us scare. I’m glad our players were able to make good decisions down the stretch,” Banal also said.

“Talo talaga (We really lost),” said Pacquiao humbly.

Back in the country from his US trip just Saturday night, the boxing icon showed up in his Kia playing jersey but stayed on the bench, just calling the shots for the team.

Pacquiao egged on their guards to spot Peter John Ramos at the post, and the 7-foot-3 import went on to pile up game highs 34 points and 20 rebounds.

Trailing by as many as 15 in the second quarter, the Carnival made the game close on Ramos’ 17-point flurry in the payoff period.

Kia was still in the game at 86-92 with a minute left to play when Avenido threw away their inbound, an error parlayed into two free throws by Intal to seal their win.

Barako took control almost throughout though playing minus injury-stricken ace guard Sol Mercado.

All in all from their Air21 days, it was Barako’s best start in a conference since 2007.