Energy, Monfort dwarf Meralco Bolts

MANILA, Philippines - Mario West missed two running one-handed shots in the closing seconds, and Barako Bull, getting huge numbers from gutsy rookie guard Eman Monfort, escaped with a 90-89 nail-biter over Meralco in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Monfort came through with his most productive performance in the pros with 22 points, including a perimeter jumper capping a decisive 18-8 run that gave Barako Bull a 90-87 lead with 1:39 left to play.

The 2012 16th draft selection, who also snared seven rebounds, preserved his exploits as West muffed two potential game-winning shots in the last 10 seconds.

Michael Singletary produced 28 points and 14 rebounds, Danny Seigle chipped in 12 points, nine rebounds and four assists and Dorian Peña contributed seven points while playing 17 minutes in the final half as the Energy Cola nailed their first win in the season-ending tourney after dropping an overtime loss to the Talk n Text Tropang Texters last Friday.

“It was a very tough game for us because we’re coming off that loss to Talk n Text. We didn’t play well in the first half with our point guards committing so many turnovers. Dorian changed everything for us as he gave us inside strength in the second half,” said Barako Bull coach Rajko Toroman.

Benched in their first game and throughout the first half of this match, Peña made his presence felt when finally fielded in the second half.

Despite a heavily wrapped injured left hand, he did impose his strength at the paint, grabbing seven rebounds to help energize Barako in a nip-and-tuck battle with Meralco.

Beaten at the finish, the Bolts missed what could have been a second straight win following their 89-83 upset of the Petron Blaze Boosters, also last Friday.

Monfort committed three errors and three fouls in the first half but returned steady and strong in the last two quarters, and stood tall in the end.

The former Ateneo stalwart knocked in four of five three-pointers and wound up with career highs of 22 points and seven rebounds.

The fourth smallest player to play in the PBA at 5-6 1/16, Monfort curiously piled up totals of only 23 points and seven rebounds in four games in the previous conference. He sat out the Philippine Cup due to a fractured hand.

In the PBA record book, the three smallest players to play in the league were Billy Abarrientos, Al Vergara and Boyet Bautista, all listed below 5-6.

West led all scorers with 33 points, including a follow-up on a missed three-pointer by John Wilson that trimmed the gap to one at 89-90 with 41.5 ticks left.

Brimming with much confidence, Monfort took matter into his hands in the next play, misfiring a trey that opened an opportunity for Meralco to steal the game.

Alas, West failed to convert a drive off Keith Jensen.

Two missed free throws by Peña gave the Bolts one more chance to win the game, but West missed the same shot taken against the same defender.

“It was really a hard game. Hopefully, the win gives us added strength and energy,” said Toroman.

Petron Blaze broke free from a tight seesawing game in the homestretch and gifted Gie Abanilla his first win as PBA head coach with a 101-95 drubbing of Barangay Ginebra later in the night.

“It should be something special,” said Abanilla of the win they scored against Ginebra and its new player Japeth Aguilar.