Ginebra slotman Greg Slaughter (center) disputes the rebound with San Miguel’s Arwind Santos (left) and Ronald Roberts in the Gin King’s breakthrough win at Smart Araneta Coliseum. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
MANILA, Philippines—Barako Bull rolled to a third straight win and sealed the best start in franchise history last night after trimming KIA Motors, 95-86, in the PBA Commissioners’ Cup eliminations behind the 26 points, 20 rebounds and eight blocks of import Sol Alabi at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Alabi spiked his strong offensive night with 12 fourth-quarter points highlighted by clutch free throws in the stretch as the Energy climbed into a tie for the lead with idle Meralco and defending champion Purefoods.
Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao returned and coached the Carnival for the first time in the tournament but couldn’t save KIA from crashing back to earth after tripping San Miguel Beer, 88-78, last week.
“This game is all about playing defense and making good decisions,” Barako Bull coach Koy Banal said. “We were ready for their small lineup.
“The goal was really to make it three in a row. This franchise hadn’t tasted that in a long time.”
Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra finally snapped out of the rut, scoring a 95-82 victory over the Beermen, the reigning Philippine Cup champions who tumbled to a second straight defeat.
Michael Dunigan fired 29 points and three locals tossed in 14 or better for the Gin Kings, who arrested a two-game slide to climb out of the cellar.
Alabi hit four straight points with under two minutes remaining and opened up a 91-81 lead for the Energy, who put to naught another big game from hulking KIA import PJ Ramos.
Ramos dropped half of his 34 points in the fourth period as KIA came within 77-74 after being down by as many as 15 in the first half.
“Talo talaga,” Pacquiao later said as sportswriters also asked the latest on his projected fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. “Let’s just wait for the announcement.”
“I think we did the right things,” Ginebra coach Ato Agustin said. “What was our problem in our first two games? We couldn’t play the way we practice. But tonight, our running game is back.”
The scores:
First Game
BARAKO BULL 95—Alabi 26, Intal 18, Lanete 10, Hubalde 9, Garcia 8, Lastimosa 6, Wilson 6, Marcelo 4, Pascual 4, Chua 2, salvador 2, Salva 0, Paredes 0, Sorongon 0.
KIA 86—Ramos 34, Buensuceso 14, Revilla 10, Cawaling 8, Avenido 7, Burtscher 6, Pascual 4, Dehesa 3, Poligrates 0, Webb 0, Alvarez 0, Yee 0, Ighalo 0.
Quarters: 22-13, 37-28, 66-56, 95-86
Second Game
GINEBRA 95—Dunigan 29, Slaughter 18, Caguioa 17, Yeo 14, Mamaril 6, Tenorio 5, Aguilar 2, Ellis 2, Baracael 2, Pena 0, Urbiztondo 0, Helterbrand 0.
SAN MIGUEL 82—Roberts 32, Lutz 12, Lassiter 10, Fajardo 9, Cabagnot 8, santos 6, Tubid 5, Ross 0, Kramer 0, Reyes 0, Omolon 0, Pascual 0, Fortuna 0.
Quarters: 27-21, 48-41, 72-66, 95-82
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