PBA: Barako Bull dumps Alaska to enter Commissioner's Cup semis

Gabe Freeman had his usual numbers the last time out, but unfortunately he failed to help Barako Bull finish off Alaska in their PBA Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals series last Wednesday. The two-time PBA Best Import awardee, however, won’t be denied a second time. Freeman, who tallied 22 points and 17 rebounds in his debut in Barako's 99-92 Game Two loss, led his team's second-half tear as the Energy completed a 106-85 demolition of the Alaska Aces Sunday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. The win propelled the Energy to a best-of-five semifinals encounter with defending champion Talk 'N Text. The race-to-three series starts on Tuesday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City. Freeman finished with 34 points on 14-of-29 shooting from the floor and grabbed 14 rebounds as the Energy wrapped up the short best-of-three quarterfinals series, 2-1. Two-time league Most Valuable Player Willie Miller and Ronald Tubid added 20 points each while veteran Danny Seigle and former San Sebastian Stag Leo Najorda both came off the bench and combined for 22 points and 12 rebounds. Alaska seemed to be in full control of the match when JR Reyes pushed the Aces' lead to 34-27 early in the second period. Wynne Arboleda then drained a three-pointer on the other end to spark a 10-2 blitz as Barako grabbed the lead, 37-36, and never looked back from then on. Tubid hit another one from downtown as Barako ended the second period with an 18-6 scoring exchange as the Energy enjoyed a 55-42 lead at the break. But Alaska won't go down without a fight with Bonbon Custudio's pull-up jumper moving the Aces within four, 60-56. Tubid, Freeman and Miller's triples stopped that Alaska scoring spurt and kept Barako out of harm's way. The Energy continued with their hot outside shooting in the fourth to finally silence the Aces. Import Adam Parada led Alaska's losing cause with 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists while Cyrus Baguio was the top local scorer with 14 markers and six boards. Jay-R Reyes and rookie Marnel Baracael chipped in 13 and 12 points each with the latter adding five rebounds and three assists under his name. The reliable L.A. Tenorio had an off night finishing with nine points on 3-of-15 field goal shooting. He managed to collect six rebounds and seven assists. — JVP, GMA News Scores: