The Barako Bull Energy took home another victory on Mother’s Day Sunday after easily outgunning the still winless Blackwater Elite 105-90, Sunday afternoon at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
A combined early 16 points from JC Intal and reinforcement Liam McMorrow paved the way for Barako Bull to take control in the first quarter, building their first double-digit lead, 18-8, with four minutes left in the quarter. The Energy held Blackwater to only three more points in the last four minutes of the quarter to build a staggering 32-11 lead at the end of the half. The Elite managed to only sink four of their seventeen field goal attempts in the period.
A better-shooting Blackwater doubled their first quarter tally in the early minutes of the second, but unable to stop the fiery Barako Bull, and the Elites continued to trail by double digits. Despite a more impressive showing from their bench unit and big baskets from import Marcus Douthit, it was the Energy who had the lead at halftime, 55-42.
There was no change of pace in the third quarter, with the explosive Barako Bull frontcourt sinking basket after basket with Blackwater unable to pull the right stops. Back-to-back triples from Sunday Salvacion cut the lead to a manageable 71-59 for Blackwater, but the run was ended with consecutive baskets from McMorrow and Carlo Lastimosa on the other end. At the end of another twelve minutes, the Energy led by another wide margin, 87-65.
The Barako Bull bench unit had no trouble holding the fort, with the lead growing by as many as 25 early in the fourth quarter. The Energy led by 19 heading into the last two minutes before later walking away with the win.
Import Liam McMorrow led Barako Bull with 23 points and 17 rebounds, winning Player of the Game honors after the buzzer. Carlo Lastimosa had 18 points off the bench while JC Intal had 17. Former Gilas reinforcement Marcus Douthit had 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks for the Elite, who have yet to taste victory in the their three outings in the conference thus far.
The Scores:
Barako Bull (105) – McMorrow 23, Lastimosa 18, Intal 17, Yeo 8, Maierhofer 7, Hubalde 6, Garcia 4, Pascual 4, Lanete 4, Wilson 4, Sorongon 4, Ababou 3, Chua 2, Forrester 1, Salva 0
Blackwater (90) -Douthit 21, Erram 12, Heruela 12, Gamalinda 12, Cervantes 9, Salvacion 9, Ballesteros 4, Celiz 3, Bulawan 3, Acuña 3, Reyes 2, Timberlake 0, Laure 0
Quarters: 32-11; 55-42; 87-65; 105-90
