New import Hickerson lifts Barako past Petron

Game today:

Digos, Davao

6:45 p.m.- B-Meg vs. Air21

Leroy Hickerson was in his usual deadly form in his first game as a returning import, leading the Barako Bull Energy to a 111-107 come-from-behind win over the Petron Blaze Boosters last night in the 37th PBA Governors’ Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Hickerson, who played for the Air21 Express in the 2010 Fiesta Cup, wound up with a game-high 32 points, providing the needed offensive firepower for the Energy’s second win in four games.

Hickerson was ably backed by the Barako Bull locals with Ronald Tubid, Doug Kramer, Willie Miller and Leo Najorda scoring in double figures and combined for 50 points.

The Energy stole the win from the Boosters with a strong fourth quarter finish as they clawed back from a 64-52 halftime deficit.

Barako Bull still trailed Petron going into the fourth, 84-91, but Hickerson, Tubid and Miller conspired in a telling run in the closing minutes.

A split free throw by Hickerson and hard drive to the basket by Tubid knotted the count at 105-all with 1:52 left.

Petron’s import Eddie Basden converted a reverse layup to put the Boosters on top again, 107-105. Petron would fail to score again.

Miller converted his own twisting layup in the next play before Tubid completed a fastbreak layup as the Energy finally stole the lead, 109-107 with 33.8 seconds to play.

The Boosters came up empty in a crucial offensive play, while Hickerson converted a split free throw to peg the final count.

Basden and Jay Washington scored 23 points each for the Boosters, who absorbed their second loss in five games.

BOX SCORES:

BARAKO (111)- Hickerson 32, Tubid 17, Kramer 17, Miller 16, Najorda 10, Allado 9, Weinstein 3, Pennisi 3, Cervantes 2, Gatumbato 2, Sharma 0, Cruz 0.

PETRON 107 – Basden 23, Washington 23, Lutz 16, Cabagnot 12, Yeo 8, Santos 8, Ildefonso 8, Pena 7, Miranda 2, Reyes 0.

QUARTERSCORES: 30-34, 52-64, 84-91, 111-107.