Watch out for the Barako Bull Energy. The conference’s most surprising performer reasserted their newfound dominance with a 123-114 victory over the GlobalPort Batang Pier, Sunday afternoon at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
An 11-1 start bolstered by Liam McMorrow’s seven early points paved the way for Barako Bull to take control of the game. The Batang Pier responded by going 15-7 in the next few minutes, completing a blitz put together by the sparked Jarrid Famous and Terrence Romeo. Seven points from Carlo Lastimosa in the last stretch of the period widened the gap for Barako Bull at the buzzer, 27-20.
Five points from rookie sensation Stanley Pringle paved the way for GlobalPort to finally tie the game early in the second, 29-29 . Two charities later from Billy Mamaril gave the Batang Pier their first taste of the lead. After trading baskets and leads for the next few minutes, GlobalPort suddenly found themselves with a growing lead, thanks to a 9-0 rally put together by Famous and Romeo. The Batang Pier led by as many as nine, 48-39, with just four minutes left to play. At the end of the half, the Batang Pier led 50-45.
Another game of chance broke out in the third quarter, with Barako Bull scampering to close the gap. Baskets from McMorrow and R.R Garcia helped the Energy take back the lead four minutes into the quarter, 56-55. It was Barako Bull’s time to take control of the ballgame, with an explosive McMorrow pouring in basket after basket to pile on the lead. At the end of the quarter, the Energy led by a considerable margin, 87-80.
Eight unanswered points early in the fourth brought GlobalPort to within striking distance once more, 89-91. The blitz however was ended by a triple on the other end by Carlo Lastimosa. With their import spending too much time off the court due to foul trouble, the Batang Pier found themselves struggling to keep up with the explosive Barako Bull scorers.
With two minutes left, the Barako Bull had in their hands a 114-105 lead. The next minute of play saw the Batang Pier try and inch their way back into striking distance, with Pringle hitting an easy bucket and Omar Krayem sinking a triple that cut the lead to four, 114-110, with 1:15 left on the clock. But the next few possessions saw GlobalPort fall short of hitting the necessary baskets. With 36 ticks left on the clock, the score was unchanged. Two free throws from Willy Wilson extended the lead to six with 31 seconds left. More free throws came the Energy’s way, burying the hungry Batang Pier’s hopes.
Joseph Yeo had 19 points and 10 assist, for which he was named Player of the Game. Liam McMorrow led the scoring with a monster 41 points and 27 rebounds. Jarrid Famous led GlobalPort with 32, while Terrence Romeo had 30 of his own. With the win, Barako Bull improves to 6-1, the number one slate in the conference. GlobalPort meanwhile slides to 4-4.
The Scores:
Barako Bull (123) – McMorrow 41, Yeo 19, Intal 14, Lastimosa 14, Garcia 10, Wilson 9, Lanete 6, Pascual 4, Ababou 4
GlobalPort (114) – Famous 32, Romeo 30, Pringle 16, Krayem 11, Kramer 8, Buenafe 8, Mamaril 4, Semerad 3, Ponferrada 2
Quarters: 27-20; 45-50; 87-80; 123-114
