PBA: Barako downs Meralco, snaps six-game skid

 

Barako Bull Energy snapped their six-game losing streak with a 99-86 win over the Meralco Bolts on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena, in the 2013-14 PBA Philippine Cup.

Dennis Miranda was the Best Player of the Game with 17 points, including a perfect 3-of-3 clip from beyond the arc.

"We were able to execute very well kaya na-control namin laro," said Barako head coach Bong Ramos. "Players na 'to, they're pushing themselves. Dun ako natatakot, baka magsawa ba, but we were able to get over the hump."

The two teams are now deadlocked in the standings with 3-6 cards, tying them with the Alaska Aces as well.
 

A pair of Mark Macapagal treys anchored a 12-5 blitz for Barako to start the game, before Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Gary David pushed Meralco ahead, 15-14. Mick Pennisi and Willie Miller then took over, finding their range to end the period with a 10-4 run, good for a 24-19 Barako Bull advantage.

 

The Bolts cut the lead to two after a 6-0 spurt, capped by a Nelbert Omolon make, 27-25. Rico Maierhofer responded with five of Barako's next 10, while JC Intal connected with a pair of triples to make it a double-digit buffer, 44-33. Gary David and Al-Hussaini tried to trim the deficit going into the halftime break, but a pair of makes from rookie Carlo Lastimosa helped Barako sustain a 50-39 advantage after two.
 

 

A triple from  Miranda early in the third made it a 16-point affair for Barako, before Mike Cortez led a spirited 9-1 run to bring Meralco to within eight, 54-62. Barako countered with its own run, as Willie Miller, Dorian Peña, and even Willy Wilson chipped in to rebuild their lead. A Keith Jensen long bomb had Barako ahead by 17, 78-61, though the Bolts salvaged two more points before the quarter ended.

 

An and-one from Reynel Hugnatan started the scoring in the fourth, before Mick Pennisi strung six together to bump the lead back to 18, 84-66. Meralco was more than willing to mount a comeback, as Al-Hussaini, John Wilson and Mike Cortez found their mark, but timely hits from Willie Miller and Maierhofer kept the Bolts at bay, 91-75.

 

Gary David knocked down a triple soon after, but a pair of sorry misses from John Wilson led to a Miranda corner trey. With 2:09 remaining, Barako was up by 16 anew, 94-78, as Meralco called for time. The Bolts never recovered after that, as back-to-back misses by Cortez and David from beyond the arc iced the game for Barako. 

In addition to Miranda, six other Barako Bull players finished with double-digit point totals. Willie Miller added 14 points, five boards and four assists versus just one turnover. Mick Pennisi chimed in with 14 markers as well, plus six rebounds and two blocks. Mark Macapagal and JC Intal combined to go 5-of-11 from downtown, en route to 11 points each, while Rico Maierhofer and Dorian Pena scored 10 apiece, and hauled in 15 caroms.

Gary David and Mike Cortez led the way for Meralco, with 20 points apiece and a total of seven treys. Rabeh Al-Hussaini had a double-double of 19 points and 16 rebounds, as did John Wilson, with 14 points and 10 boards.

Barako Bull found their range from deep, hitting 14-of-34 three-pointers, while Meralco was just 8-of-23 from beyond the arc.
 - AMD, GMA News