Barako flaunts grit, stuns San Mig Coffee

Willie Miller of Barako Bull (light) vs PJ Simon of San Mig Coffee (dark). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines—Barako Bull got a much-needed lift from Willie Miller in the fourth period and the marginal free throws from Ronjay Buenafe in a 92-90 upset of San Mig Coffee that got the Energy back in the playoff hunt in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Energy overhauled a 16-point deficit at the start of the fourth period, holding the Mixers scoreless in the first six minutes of the quarter before outsteadying their foes in a wild endgame to win for just the second time in six games.

Miller scored 13 of his 19 points in the payoff frame, and Buenafe canned two charities off Peter June Simon with 7.2 ticks remaining that shattered the game’s last tie.

Mark Barroca, the Philippine Cup Finals MVP, couldn’t save the Mixers from absorbing their first loss in four matches after muffing a wide-open running jumper off the glass as Mick Pennisi sealed San Mig’s doom by grabbing the most important defensive rebound as time expired.

Barako Bull’s only two victories, interestingly enough, have come at the expense of the two finalists of the Philippine Cup after the Energy also upset Rain or Shine two weeks ago.

Josh Dollard finished with 32 points, but the big difference why the Energy were able to pull this one off was because of the support he got. JC Intal scored 10 points and Miller also had 10 assists and two steals in his best game of the conference.

Miller, the two-time MVP, saw almost no relief in the second half and coach Bong Ramos was quick to point out that it was the only thing he could have done with the 6-foot dynamo.

“He was playing so well that I had to keep him in the game,” Ramos said of Miller, whose only triple of the night, which came in the third period, was the 800th of his career.

James Mays paced the Mixers with 20 points, but only four of them came in the final three quarters.

Meanwhile, Meralco battles struggling powerhouse Rain or Shine tonight at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Brian Butch will still suit up for the Bolts, who earned an extended stay last Sunday after he erupted for 40 points and 31 rebounds  in a 109-98 whipping of Air21.

The game is slated at 5:45 p.m., before the Express try to bounce back from that meltdown against Barangay Ginebra at 8 p.m.

A replacement for Butch—Darnell Jackson—is already in town but that gem of a game against the Express gave the coaching staff no choice but to retain him.

THE SCORES:

BARAKO BULL 92—Dollard 32, Miller 19, Intal 10, Marcelo 7, Deutchman 6, Pennisi 6, Fortuna 5, Buenafe 5, Wilson 2, Lastimosa 0, Peña 0, Miranda 0.

SAN MIG COFFEE 90—Mays 20, Devance 17, Simon 16, Yap 12, Barroca 10, Pingris 8, Melton 3, Sangalang 2, Reavis 2, Mallari 0.

Quarters: 18-26, 49-47, 62-78, 92-90