PBA: Barakos open semis with win vs Phone Pals, 107-101

The Red Bull Barakos opened their semi-final campaign by beating the Talk 'N' Text Phone Pals in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter, 107-101, at the start of their best-of-seven semifinal round match-up of the Talk ‘N Text-PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum. Former Ateneo Blue Eagle spitfire Larry Fonancier scattered 11 points in the fourth quarter including a crucial three-point shot with less than 50 seconds left to douse cold water on the Phone Pals' bid to to overhaul their slim lead. Talk 'N' Text managed to bring the Bulls’ lead to just three points, 102-99, when the 6’3’ wingman made a long three-pointer to push his team’s lead to six points, 105-99. Fonancier, who played just 13 minutes in game, was adjudged as the game’s Player Na Walang Katulad for scoring 14 points, two rebounds, and two assists. After a timeout by coach Derrick Pumaren, the Phone Pals managed to cut the lead to just four points with a basket by import JJ Sullinger with less than 30 seconds remaining. However, the game eventually slipped from their hands when former FEU Tamaraw King Celino Cruz buried a shot from the right side, bringing again the Bulls’ lead to six points, 107-101. Red Bull Coach Yeng Guiao praised his boys for the hard-earned victory, saying that the true character of the team came out especially when the Pals came close of overhauling their lead in the fourth. “We showed patience especially when they (Pals) were making a run during the last minutes of the fourth quarter. We hope this victory be a key towards our quest of landing in the finals,” Guiao said. Guaio, who is attempting to become the first coach to lead a PBA team to back-to-back Fiesta Conference crowns, expects Game Two to be tougher as the Pals will surely attempt to bounce back. “But we will be ready for them,” he said. Talk 'N' Text was led by Sullinger with 27 points and 13 rebounds, Mac-Mac Cardona with 15 points and three rebounds, and Don Allado with 11 points and four rebounds. Talk 'N' Text actually led at the half by one point, 45-44. But the start of third quarter saw a different Red Bull side, even taking their biggest lead at eight points, 75-67, with less than two minutes left in the game. But the Pals stormed back to cut the deficit to three after the third period, 75-72. Quarter scores: 27-19, 45-44, 75-72, 107-101

- GMANews.TV