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PBA: Barako Bull gets first win, spoils Rain or Shine's Commissioner's Cup debut
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Barako Bull's Mick Pennisi (R) challenges a Jeff Chan layup try. KC Cruz
The Barako Bull Energy Cola survived a near coup by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 110-106, in the 2014 PBA Commissioner's Cup, Sunday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Josh Dollard lit up with 44 points and 19 rebounds, including 17 points in the fourth quarter, to tow the Energy to the finish line. Willie Miller had 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Denok Miranda added 13 markers, while Ronjay Buenafe scored all of his 11 in the third quarter.
Up by 101-91 after Dollard's fourth quarter rampage, Paul Lee and Jeff Chan hit clutch buckets in the last four minutes to get within two, 108-106, with 3.6 seconds left. Willie Wilson hit two charities to stretch it to a two-possession lead, though, keeping Barako Bull safe from the recent Philippine Cup finalists.
"Yung sakit namin from our last conference nandoon parin. But this is a good experience for us," said coach Bong Ramos, describing his team's tendency in the last conference to squander leads.
Ramos said that Dollard wasn't even his team's first choice of import. Their original target, Jim Kelly, had contract problems with his ball club in Hungary, revealed Ramos. "Magaling talaga 'to, but I didn't expect him to play like this," said Ramos. He expects that Dollard will continue to improve as he gets more familiar with Barako Bull's system.
"He's just confused because we have a lot of options, he's not used to that. What I told him is if you forgot the play, don't stop. What's important is you don't stop," said Ramos.
Barako Bull evened their record at 1-1 at the expense of Rain or Shine's conference debut. It also marked the franchise's first win over Rain or Shine in eight meetings over the past seven conferences.
The Energy were more aggressive offensively to start the game. After several Barako drives to the rim, Denok Miranda scored seven straight, including two treys, to take a 15-11 lead. Import Alex McLean came to Rain or Shine's rescue, pouring in nine during a 13-5 run, but gave up a breakaway slam to Josh Dollard to bring the Energy to within two at the end of the period, 24-22.
Josh Dollard attacks against the defense of Rain or Shine's Jervy Cruz and Jeff Chan. KC Cruz
Rain or Shine ditched the Energy in the second, spacing the floor well for quality looks even without their import on the floor. Chris Tiu, Jeff Chan and Beau Belga all hit from beyond the arc, highlighting a 20-6 run to begin the period, 44-28.
Halfway through the quarter, Willie Miller interrupted the rally with his second three-pointer, and Barako Bull cut the lead down to single digits by clearing out for Dollard and letting him create. The import scored 10 straight points, before Miller ended the half with another trey, 53-46.
The Energy went back to Dollard in the third quarter, and this time he had more help. Ronjay Buenafe connected thrice from downtown, edging a flagging Rain or Shine squad, 71-70. Barako Bull rested Dollard in the last four minutes of the period, but a late 9-5 push from Rain or Shine, including five from Jonathan Uyloan, forced a tie heading into the fourth.
Dollard breached the 40-point barrier on a triple midway through the fourth, scoring 15 of Barako Bull's first 21 points. Rain or Shine initially asked Tiu to create baskets for their bigs in the post, but that effort faltered after the Energy dropped nine unanswered, punctuated by Carlo Lastimosa on the break, to lead 101-91 with 4:11 to play.
Paul Lee scored on a post-up and a three-pointer, kicking off a comeback effort for the Elasto Painters. The point guard teamed up with Jeff Chan for a 12-6 swing, with Chan scoring five straight in transition, 107-104.
Rain or Shine intentionally fouled JC Intal, who split from the line with 11.5 seconds left. Beau Belga cleaned up a Chan miss, 108-106, and Barako Bull called time with 3.4 seconds left. Willie Wilson delivered his team to the finish line, converting two charities with 2.6 remaining, 110-106.
Alex McLean led the Elasto Painters with 21 points and 16 rebounds. Paul Lee and Jeff Chan had 15 and 14 points, respectively. Beau Belga added 11 points while Gabe Norwood had 10 points and four assists. - RAF/AMD, GMA News
Barako Bull shot 36-of-77 (46.8 percent) from the field, while Rain or Shine went 36-of-88 (40.9 percent). Rain or Shine led in assists (21-11), second-chance points (13-0) and turnover points (18-6).
The scores:
BARAKO 110 - Dollard 44, Miller 19, Miranda 13, Buenafe 11, Pennisi 9, Intal 7, Lastimosa 2, Wilson 2, Marcelo 2, Isip 1, Jensen 0, Fortuna 0, Pena 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 106 - McLean 21, Lee 15, Chan 14, Belga 11, Norwood 10, Uyloan 9, Almazan 9, Tiu 5, Arana 4, Rodriguez 4, Cruz 2, Nuyles 2, Tang 0, Teng 0, Ibanes 0.
