PBA: Arigo helps Coke clinch Philippine Cup playoff berth

MANILA, Philippines – John Arigo exploded for a personal conference-high 31 points – his highest in three years – powering Coca-Cola to a come-from-behind 88-86 win over Red Bull as the Tigers clinched a playoff berth last night in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City. The Tigers rallied from a second-quarter 20-point deficit (39-19), chipping the gap from the third quarter on before Arigo capped a brilliant individual effort with a booming triple with 51 seconds left that more or less completed the uprising as Coca-Cola took an 87-82 lead. “We survived, we survived," said Tigers interim coach Kenneth Duremdes after the tense contest, Coca-Cola’s last in the 18-game elimination round. “This is not an ordinary do-or-die game," added Duremdes, who only heaved a huge amount of relief when Red Bull muffed a potential game-winning three-point shot in its final offensive play. “Ang maganda sa team, nung nawala si Asi, nag step up si Nic. Nung nawala si Nic, nag step-up si Mark. Ngayon, nag ste-up si John. (Good thing that when Asi was sidelined Nic stepped up. When Nic got injured Mark took charge. Now it’s John’s turn). It’s totally a team effort." The victory thus assured Coca-Cola of a wild card stage appearance, and eliminated Red Bull from the playoffs. This is the first time that the Bulls, who have made it to the semifinals seven straight times before this tournament, will be missing the post-elimination round stage since the Philippine Cup of the 2004-05 season. Arigo shot 13-of-20 from the field including 4-of-6 from the three-point area and likewise pulled down eight rebounds, while Ronjay Buenafe – who hit two crucial baskets in the last 3:23 – hit for 14 points and Mark Telan ended up with 10 points and 14 rebounds. For a team that played without its two veterans and one which is still groping in terms of smooth chemistry under Duremdes’ system, the wild card is already something the Tigers should be happy about. They met a team that has really nothing to lose, a ball club that traded Mick Pennisi in the off-season and a squad that went through a franchise eight-game losing streak before winning two in a row. Red Bull was hoping to win this one and again come out on top against Sta. Lucia to claim the last wild card berth. It was not meant to be, however, as the Bulls once again collapsed at a time when they need not to. Red Bull was comfortably ahead 45-30 at the half, but suddenly saw the advantage cut down to within 67-61 going to the fourth. Coca-Cola tied the count for the first time since 4-4 when Buenafe drained a triple with 3:23 left to go at 80-80. He even gave the Tigers the lead with a floater at the 2:40 mark, 82-80. Rodney Santos widened Coca-Cola’s lead with a turnaround jumper, and Cyrus Baguio, who topscored for the Bulls with 15 points, trimmed it at 84-82 with a pair of free throws. Arigo then buried the huge triple for an 87-82 lead. But Gabby Espinas had a split from the line and Jeff Chan knocked in a triple with 10 seconds left to make it 87-86. Alex Cabagnot trooped to the charity line after a duty foul by Celino Cruz. Cabagnot made the first, but missed the second and the ball went out of bounds in favor of Red Bull. With only six seconds left in the game clock, the Bulls had the chance to win it outright. But Chan, wide open from the right corner, muffed his three-point shot. – GMANews.TV