Barako Bull vs Talk N Text Tropang Texters

MANILA, Philippines – Barako Bull showed up with a renewed energy despite a 25-point blowout loss Thursday, building a 21-point bulge in one instance in the third period and going on to preserve an 85-81 win to move in the doorstep of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals at the Cuneta Astrodome tonight.

Behind the clutch baskets by Mick Pennisi and Willie Miller, the Energy fended off the Tropang Texters’ determined endgame chase to gain the pivotal 2-1 lead in the best-of-five semifinal series.

“We will try to slay a giant on Monday. If we allow them to stay alive, we’ll be in trouble in Game Five,” said Barako coach Junel Baculi.

“Talk n Text has been in a more difficult situation. They fell behind 1-3 in the recent Philippine Cup finals but still won the championship. So we still have to go back to the drawing board and see what else we can improve on in our game,” Baculi also said.

Barako threw a defensive blanket on Talk n Text, holding the Texters to a conference-low of 31 points in the first half, an effort spelling the big difference as the Energy once again surged ahead in the series.

Gabe Freeman, Miller, Pennisi and Danny Seigle provided the offensive firepower as Barako (formerly Air21) moved within a win of a second PBA finals appearance.

“The players showed they wanted to win this one. Hopefully, they show the same intensity, effort and desire in Game Four. I really feel, we would have a hard time beating them in a deciding Game Five,” said Baculi.

The Texters gallantly fought back from 33-54 down but came up short, eventually yielding the game as Miller and Pennisi scored three charities to make it 85-81 with time down to 26 seconds.

Talk n Text rallied to within one at 81-82 behind key plays by Donnell Harvey, Kelly Williams and Jason Castro. 

The Texters missed the services of Jimmy Alapag in the homestretch as the TnT ace guard drew a second technical foul with 4:37 left to play.

Alapag incurred an earlier “T” on a confrontation with Ronald Tubid.

Freeman, Pennisi, Miller and Dorian Pena combined for 7-of-8 field-goal shooting in the second quarter as Barako made a key run and took a 42-31 cushion at the turn.

Both teams got off to a slow start with the Energy edging the Texters, 19-17, in the opening canto.

The two squads fought through three deadlocks and five lead changes before the Energy seized command on a second-quarter flurry spearheaded by Freeman with his perfect 4-of-4 shooting.

The Texters struggled for their least output (31) in a half in the season, converting only 13 of 38 field-goal attempts.

Freeman and his teammates stepped up even more in the third, leading by as many as 21 at 54-33 on a 12-2 run.