Barako Bull finds salvation on a PBA Sunday
Barako Bull did more than win their first game of Season 36 of the Philippine Basketball Association.
Reed Juntilla scored the Energy Boosters’ final six points as they not only upset the fancied Meralco Bolts team 74-68 but they also snapped a two year and six-match losing streak at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Down by 12 points 35-47 at the 6:06 mark of the third quarter following a fastbreak layup by Chris Ross, Barako Bull got back in the game thanks largely through the interior defense by 6’7” center Mark Andaya and the outside sniping of Sunday Salvacion.
The off-season acquisition by the Energy Boosters brought exactly what coach Junel Baculi hoped he would – firepower from the outside. Salvacion strafed the Bolts with three straight triples at the start of the fourth quarter to not only complete the rally but to give Barako Bull a lead they would not relinquish at 62-59 at the 9:11 mark.
As Barako lapsed into a series of errors and fouls, Meralco tied the match at 68-all following a put back by Gabby Espinas with 45 seconds to play. But the Energy Boosters showed remarkable resiliency as they stopped the Bolts on the defensive end.
A Flagrant 2 foul assessed on Espinas for a clothesline on Thiele scuttled any hope of a Meralco comeback as Juntilla put the finishing touches on the game.
Salvacion, who scored 22 points in his side’s opening day loss, finished with 21 points. Teammate Rob Wainwright rebounded from his tough debut with 13 points while Juntilla and the rapidly improving Mark Isip added 11 and 10 respectively.
For the Bolts who are in their maiden year in the PBA, forward Mark Cardona, who arrived in the off-season after spending his first few years in the league with Talk ‘N’ Text, thinks that it’s all about chemistry. “Syempre bago yung team at ngayon lang kami nagsama-sama. Iba yung ensayo sa laro bale kapag nagka-amuyan na ay sa tingin ko tuloy tuloy na ‘to.”
“I like to think that we learned our lessons from our loss to Alaska. We didn’t show consistency our loss. I told the team that if we can start by playing defense then our offense will follow,” said a jubilant Baculi after the match as Barako Bull leveled its record to 1-1 the same mark as Meralco. “We hope this win will lead to good things for our team.” Rick Olivares
Barako Bull 74 - Salvacion 21, Wainwright 13, Juntilla 11, Isip 10, Thiele 8, Dimaunahan 4, Hubalde 3, Andaya 2, Misolas 2, Alonzo 0, Duncil 0, Cruz 0, Yee 0.
Meralco 68 - Cardona 19, Belga 13, Espinas 11, Taulava 9, Ross 6, Aquino 4, Weinstein 2, Escobal 2, Omolon 2, Aljamal 0, Daa 0
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