Barako ends All-Filipino campaign on a high note

Barako Bull bade goodbye to its PBA Philippine Cup campaign with a big imprint. And woe to defending champions Derby Ace. Denis Daa’s two free throws with 0.4 seconds left lifted the Energy Boosters past a shocked Llamados five, 85-83, to end an eight-game slide at the Araneta Coliseum Friday night. “Before the game, I told the players that they should prove that they belong in this league," said Barako Bull coach Junel Baculi. “I think they proved that today. How I wish that there’s still a third round (of liminations)." The victory came six weeks since Barako Bull last registered a win, an 89-79 triumph over Air21 on October 29. The Energy Boosters finished their All-Filipino campaign with a 3-11 mark and will miss the playoffs for the fifth straight conference. The loss was obviously a big blow to Derby Ace, which was seeking to earn at least a berth in the best-of-three quarter-finals. But with an even 7-7 card to end the eliminations, the Llamados are now left worrying if they might end up either at seventh or eighth spot owing to an inferior quotient. A seventh or eight place finish means the reigning champions will be hard-pressed to win twice against either the No. 1 or No. 2 team in the playoff round. Daa was sent to the free throw line following a surprising call slapped on Rico Maierhofer after the Barako Bull forward tried to follow up Reed Juntilla's missed shot. The Llamados led by early at 21-12, but trailed at 51-43 early in the third quarter. Still, they were on track to win this one after a James Yap basket gave them an 83-81 lead with 1:42 left to play. Then Sunday Salvacion nailed a big basket at the 41.8 mark to tie the game, before Jerwin Gaco bungled an open jumper in the next play. Baculi sued for time with 12.7 seconds to go, and devised a one-on-one play for Juntilla. Juntilla followed the play to the letter, doing an isolation on top, only for his shot to fall short. But the ball landed in Daa’s waiting hands. Daa capped his heroics for the Energy Boosters by completing his second career double double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Salvacion paced Barako’s scoring with 15 points. James Yap topscored with 22 points to pace the Llamados, who badly missed the services of suspended guard Peter June Simon. Simon served a one-game ban for committing a flagrant foul 2 on Meralco’s Ogie Menor last Wednesday. He was also slapped a P20,000 fine. – JVP/KY, GMANews.TV