Barako Bull edges NLEX, stays in hunt for playoff berth

Games Wednesday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:15 p.m. – Meralco vs Blackwater

7 p.m. – Alaska vs Ginebra

MANILA, Philippines – Barako Bull banked on a strong start and a stronger windup to repulse NLEX, 91-85, and hang on in the fight for the three remaining playoff spots in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Tuesday night.

Sol Mercado neutralized NLEX import Al Thornton on a sterling defensive effort while Chico Lanete stood out on the offensive end with clutch three-pointers at the finish as the Energy salvaged the game that kept them in the running for the post-elims play.

Barako Bull snapped a four-game losing skein against Rain or Shine, San Miguel Beer, Meralco and Purefoods Star, and closed out its elimination round stint at 5-6 (win-loss).

However, the Energy will still go through the quirks of the quotient tiebreak system should Globalport and Alaska Milk also win their last games in the elims versus San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra, respectively.

Meanwhile, NLEX still finished in the Top Five despite the loss to Barako Bull. The Road Warriors wound up with a 6-5 card after losing the game where they went scoreless in the last six minutes of the contest.

“There were so many complications. The simplest thing for us was to win and see what happens,” said Barako Bull coach Koy Banal.

“I love what Sol done to Thornton on defense. In practice, he volunteered to guard Thornton and I just gave it to him. He came in ready and showed the desire to help us live for another day,” said Banal of Mercado who held the prolific NLEX import eight points below his norm of 32.2.

Banal also made special mention of Lanete who highlighted their 12-0 closing run with back-to-back dagger treys.

“Chico is a veteran player and he proved you can rely on him down the stretch. His back-to-back triples were big for us. I’m really glad he’s able to step up down the stretch,” Banal said.

With Mercado taking on Thornton, Sol Alabi had a lighter load in his matchup with Asi Taulava.

Alabi piled up 29 points and 15 rebounds although the Barako locals carried the load in thwarting the Road Warriors at the finish.

Paolo Hubalde and Carlo Lastimosa also hit clutch baskets as the Energy warded off the NLEX fightback from a 13-point deficit.

Playing catch-up basketball most of the way, the Road Warriors turned the game around in the fourth quarter, storming ahead at 85-79 with 6:01 left to play.

Alas, the Road Warriors didn’t score a single basket from there.

Lanete, Mercado, JC Intal and Jake Pascual contributed double-digit outputs for Barako while Mark Cardona was the lone local scoring in twin digits for NLEX.

NOTES: Expansion teams KIA and Blackwater entered into a trade deal shortly before the end of the elims of the mid-season tourney, with Alex Nuyles dealt away to the Carnival camp for Reil Cervantes.