source:gmanews.tv
The late PBA chairman Tony Chua may be smiling from above.
His underrated, much-maligned Barako Bull team has just scored the first upset of the KFC-Philippine Cup, pulling off a come-from-behind 81-73 win over Coca-Cola Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum.
Magnum Membrere stood at the forefront of the Energy Boosters’ stunning win by firing 6-of-7 from the field to lead the team in scoring with 14 points.
His three-pointer with 2:18 to go put Barako Bull in front, 76-70.
Until his demise last month at the height of tropical storm “Ondoy," Chua was Barako Bull’s representative to the PBA Board and acted as team manager. He was also chairman of the league in 2007.
“I just told the guys that I am tired of losing so we have to win this one," said Membrere, who, along with Alex Crisano and Leo Najorda, is the remaining player from last year’s core.
“It’s a new group composed of many young players and some veterans," said coach Leo Isaac. “And all of them wanted to be recognized."
The win was only the third for Isaac since taking over the coaching chore from Yeng Guiao at the start of the Fiesta Conference last season.
For the team, now with an even 1-1 card, it was the first win since March 22 when it battled back from a 24-point deficit in the fourth quarter to turn back heavy-favorite Talk `N Text, 135-133.
The Energy Boosters trailed by as many as 28-40 in the second quarter following a Marvin Cruz jumper, but they neither blinked nor got intimidated in the face of the Tigers’ offensive onslaught.
They eventually caught up with the Tigers at 70-70 and then got the lead for good following a three-pointer by rookie Ogie Menor to make it 73-70 with 3:02 remaining.
Dennis Espino put Coca-Cola within 76-72 with a long jumper before Chad Alonzo had a split, and Espino shoved the Tigers to within 77-73 off his own split from the line.
But Jojo Duncil and Don Belano each converted their pair of charities at the other end to seal the win for Barako Bull.
Coca-Cola lost Asi Taulava after the 2003 MVP suffered a right ankle injury. Taulava left the coliseum limping with the game barely reaching its halfway mark. The Tigers lost promising Larry Rodriguez too late in the game because of a foot injury.
Espino led Coca-Cola with 15 points and seven rebounds while Norman Gonzales had 12 points. Rodriguez played for 34 minutes and wound up with 10 points and 18 rebounds, 10 of them offensive.
The scores
Barako Bull 81 -- Membrere 14, Duncil 11, Alonzo 10, Najorda 9, Aljamal 8, Crisano 7, Belano 7, Menor 6, Lao 5, Viray 2, Dimaunahan 2, Faundo 0.
Coke 73 -- Espino 15, Gonzales N. 12, Cruz 11, Rodriguez 10, Caagnot 10, Calimag 6, Ross 3, Bono 2, Catli 2, Taulava 2, Gonzales W. 0.
Quarterscores: 19-22, 41-45, 55-58, 81-73
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