Barako Bull trails big, stuns Alaska for 2-0 start

MANILA, Philippines – Barako Bull had it going from the outside as the Energy rallied past the Alaska Aces 97-93 in the 2014 PLDT MyDSL Philippine Cup Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Guard Ronjay Buenafe made seven of Barako Bull’s franchise-best 17 three-pointers in a regulation game on his way to a 27-point outburst, highlighted by a nifty go-ahead drive over two defenders that put the Energy back on top for good 95-93 with 33.7 seconds left.

“I didn’t see it (the basket) actually. It’s just confidence I guess. I saw the [driving] lane and I took it,” said Buenafe of his clutch shot.

“They adjusted in the third quarter and at the start of the fourth quarter I adjusted also. I’m happy because the players responded,” said Barako Bull coach Bong Ramos, whose squad upped its mark to 2-0 after blowing out Air 21 in its first game. “Ronjay is capable of scoring twenty-plus points.”

The Energy won despite staring at a 15-point deficit, 65-80, early in the fourth period thanks in large part to their outside shooting. In fact, Barako Bull shot better from long distance as it did at the two-point area.

“Our outside shots really helped us a lot,” said Ramos.

Mark Isip added 12 points while Mick Pennisi, JC Intal and Keith Jensen had nine points each.

“That’s what I’m here for to shoot threes,” said the veteran big man Pennisi, who went three-of-three from downtown with all of his treys coming in the final frame.

The Aces, led by Cyrus Baguio’s 20 points, knotted the count at 93 on a well-designed sideline inbound play coming off a timeout with Sonny Thoss coming free and scoring a gimme with 44.4 ticks remaining.

Alaska, which slipped to 1-3, looked well on its way to a victory after a strong third quarter showing – outscoring Barako Bull, 36-19 – to lead by 13, 76-63, before the Energy battled back.

“It’s only the second game, there are 12 games left. Hopefully we continue to stay positive and get positive results,” said Ramos.