PBA: Miller outshines import, lifts Barako past Alaska

Barako Bull import Dermarr Johnson is one among the few who has great credentials among reinforcements seeing action in the PBA Commissioner's Cup.  

But when the Energy finally saw action Friday night, it was good old Willie Miller who took the spotlight for the team.  

The two-time league Most Valuable Player (MVP) scored 13 of his game-high 25 points in Barako Bull's third-quarter breakaway en route to a 98-78 rout of Alaska at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Miller was a perfect 6-of-6 during that stretch, helping the Energy turn a slim five-point halftime lead to a huge 72-51 advantage entering the final 12 minutes of the match. The wily guard out of Letran finished 11-of-14 from the field overall.

 

Miller's remarkable performance overshadowed Johnson's debut on local soil. The Atlanta Hawks' sixth overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft, the import finished with 19 points and eight rebounds.  

"We have a good import, but he will only be good if the locals contribute," said Barako Bull coach Junel Baculi.  

Three other Energy finished in double figures with Leo Najorda, Don Allado and new acquisition Ronald Tubid contributing 10 points each. While Barako Bull had a balanced scoring, the Energy didn't really control the game until coming through with that dominant third period where it shot 56 percent from the floor (13-of-23), while holding down Alaska to just 26 percent (6-of-23).  

In all, the Energy outscored the Aces, 33-17, in the third period.  

"Maybe Alaska just had a bad night. We were like this also in the last conference and we learned our lesson. No time to celebrate. We'll take it one game at a time. This is a short tournament, it's a sprint to the finish," said Baculi.  

Import Adam Parada, back in the league after guiding Red Bull to the 2008 Fiesta Conference semifinals, led the Aces with 16 points and 15 rebounds.  

It was the Aces' fifth straight loss dating back to the last Philippine Cup. — JVP, GMA News Scores: