Barako Bull, Meralco shock q’final rivals

RONALD Tubid of Barako Bull opts to pass as Alaska guard Wesley Gonzales applies pressure in last night’s game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The veteran Tubid scored all of his 24 points in the first three periods as the Energy veterans rose to the challenge with a remarkable showing against the quicker, much-younger Aces to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three quarterfinal series. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Of the coaches still in the hunt in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs, Junel Baculi of Barako Bull believes that he has something none of his peers have.

“I’m in good hands with my (veteran) players,” Baculi told reporters last night, moments after his battle-scarred nucleus carried the Energy to a resounding 103-90 victory over Alaska for a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three quarterfinal series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“I am reversing the situation; it is not the players who are in good hands with the coach,” Baculi, seated beside former two-time MVP Willie Miller, said with a  smile.

“They’ve been there, done that, and they know how to win playoff games.”

Ronald Tubid scored all of his 24 points in the first three periods, Danny Seigle had 21, Don Allado chipped in with 16 and nine rebounds and Miller tossed in 14 as the Energy pounded out the win despite fielding a new import for just 11 minutes.

Meralco later completed a night of the underdogs as Mac-Mac Cardona ran berserk in the  clutch and towed the B-Boys to a 103-81 victory over the No. 3 B-Meg Llamados in their own quarterfinal duel.

The B-Boys almost blew a 23-point first quarter lead and leaned on Cardona, who scattered 10 points in a crippling 18-0 run in the fourth that turned a shaky 80-77 lead into a 98-77 bubble heading into the final 3:31.

“This is an enormous breakthrough win for the franchise, our first playoff win in the last five conferences,” Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio said. “What I like about our team right now is that we are really slowly maturing.

“They (players) were so composed and weathered the storm again. In a best-of-three series, no one wins (the series) after just one win. We focus again on Wednesday.”

Earl Barron scored 34 points and Cardona finished with 22 as the B-Boys pushed B-Meg and coach Tim Cone within another loss of another painful, unexpected early exit.

In the last Philippine Cup, the Llamados, then seeded first, lost two straight to No. 8 Powerade and bowed out in the quarterfinals.

Barako Bull actually came back from an early 14-point deficit when new import Chukwinike Okosa, who replaced Rodney White, proved to be more of a liability than anything else in the first period.

Tubid then started connecting from afar in the second and flashed the same hot hands in the third, even as Allado scored all of his points in the same span, including a three-pointer from midcourt that beat the halftime buzzer for 48-47 Barako Bull advantage.

“We kind of anticipated that they won’t be playing their import that much (today),” Alaska coach Joel Banal said. “But they are still a strong team because of their veterans.”

Alaska couldn’t exploit its import advantage as Adam Parada struggled to just 11 points.

Cyrus Baguio and LA Tenorio led the team with 20 and 19 points, respectively.

A fifth man—Leo Najorda—also finished in twin digits for the Energy with 12 as Barako Bull moved within another win of forging a Final Four clash with defending champion Talk ‘N Text.

From a 79-74 lead after three quarters, the Energy poured on the heat in the payoff frame and put the issue to rest with a 99-86 lead, with 2:18 left after a layup by Wynne Arboleda.

Baculi also said they will exhaust all means to bring back Rodney White in time for Game 2 on Wednesday. White had to go back to the United States to attend to his ailing father.

Okosa wound up scoreless and had three rebounds in 11 minutes, terrible numbers compared to the league-leading 29.8 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists that White averaged in winning three of the five games he played in.

The scores:

First Game

BARAKO 103—Tubid 24, Seigle 21, Allado 16, Miller 14, Najorda 12, Pena 8, Arboleda 6, Gatumbato 2, Okosa 0, Weinstein 0, Pennisi 0.

ALASKA 90—Baguio 20, Tenorio 19, Baracael 18, Parada 11, Thoss 10, Custodio 8, Eman 2, Gonzales 2, Salamat 0, Bugia 0.

Quarters: 17-27, 48-47, 79-74, 103-90

Second Game

MERALCO 103—Barron 34, Cardona 22, Ross 12, Taulava 12, Mercado 10, Macapagal 8, Hugnatan 5, Timberlake 0, Borboran 0.

B-MEG 81—Yap 21, Bowles 18, Simon 12, Devance 9, Urbiztondo 5, De Ocampo 5, Pingris 4, Barroca 3, Intal 2, Reavis 2, Burtscher 0, Villanueva 0.

Quarters: 32-19, 54-38, 77-69, 103-81