Barako Bull’s big man lost his cool alright, but the rest of the Energy Boosters didn’t.
As a result, the Clickers absorbed another beating from a ball club that’s fast rising to the top.
Barako Bull went through rough and dirty moments but overcame all the physicality of an opponent pre-ordained as losers, unflappable in its composure in crushing Shopinas.com, 96-78, and claiming a piece of second place in the PBA Philippine Cup Friday night at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The game the Boosters were thought to win without worries drifted into a frightening moment two minutes into the second quarter when Se, a player Shopinas.com revived from the free agent market, took a fighting stance in rushing up to confront Barako Bull coach Junel Baculi.
But before Se could get near, he was pushed hard by Pena. He fell on his back, and the incident erupted into a commotion that resulted in a bench-clearing scene. When cooler heads intervened, Pena was slapped with a flagrant foul penalty 2; Se was penalized with his second technical for second motion and foul language; and Baculi got a ‘T’ for a similar foul language. Pena and Se were both ejected.
“I was talking to the referees and telling them na parang nananakit sa mga players si Se,” said Baculi afterwards. “And then bigla na lang siyang sumugod.”
That heat of that shocking incident which took place right in front of the Barako Bull bench needed some time to wear off. But once the game resumed, the Boosters were unstoppable.
Ahead by only 22-18 when that ugly sight occurred, Barako Bull suddenly shifted into high gear. The rest of the second quarter was a splendid display of defense and offense combined, and the Boosters claimed a 50-33 advantage by the time the match hit its halftime mark.
The Clickers were held to only 15.8 percent shooting in the second quarter (3-of-19) and were outscored, 34-15.
“Medyo ginanahan ang mga bata after that incident,” said Baculi.
Defending champion Talk ‘N Text similarly booked its third win, holding off B-Meg, 96-94, in the second game.
Jared Dillinger exploded for a career-high 31 points, Kelly Williams had 23 points, Ali Peek scored 13 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, and Larry Fonacier and Ryan Reyes combined for 23 points for Talk ‘N Text, which played minus Jayson Castro (severe left ankle sprain), Harvey Carey (bruised knee), and Ranidel de Ocampo (knee injury).
Yet it was Aaron Aban, the role player, who made the difference down the stretch. He made a crucial tap after Reyes missed his second free throw with 2.6 seconds left to play, and the ball drifted into the hands of Dillinger as time expired.
“We got fatigued,” said Tropang Texters’ coach Chot Reyes. “In the end, I told my players to just suck it up, dig in, and make the stops on defense. Fortunately that’s what happened.”
The Texters, seeking to become the first franchise since Great Taste in 1985 to repeat as Philippine Cup champions, actually led by as high as 31-16 and was nursing a 79-66 lead early in the final period.
But the Llamados fought back and tied the count at 88, before the Texters unloaded a 7-2 run to make it a 95-88 ball game.
Joe Devance connected on an open undergoal stab with 3.5 seconds to go and B-Meg came to within 95-94 before Reyes was fouled.
Kerby Raymundo led the Llamados, now 1-3 (win-loss), with 18 points while James Yap had 14 but only shot 5-of-19 from the field.
Five players scored in double figures for Barako Bull, which once more had a balanced offensive game led by the 14 points of Sunday Salvacion. Willie Miller had 13 points and eight assists, while Mick Pennisi and Jondan Salvador combined for 18 rebounds.
Barako Bull now shares second spot with idle Rain or Shine at 3-1.
The depressing thing, though, for Barako Bull was that Dylan Ababou suffered a cut above his left eye after absorbing a hit from Se and Allein Maliksi suffered a strained calf muscle. Leo Najorda also had a bad fall during a time when the game was already sealed.
“We played the top three teams and we never had injuries,” Baculi said. “Now we had a light opponent and we suffered so many injuries. I just hope we can get back strong to be ready for B-Meg.”
That date is still seven days from now, and Baculi and Barako Bull are fortunate that there is time for the players to rest.
The Boosters led by as many as 31 points, 74-43, after a split by Don Allado, who is now one offensive rebound away from joining the 2,000 offensive rebounds club.
All that the Clickers, who dropped their fourth straight game, could do was cut the deficit to within 16 (85-69) before the Boosters retaliated with six straight points, 91-69.