The Barako Bull Energy Colas overhauled a 10-point deficit entering the final two minutes to chalk up a gutsy 98-88 overtime win over Globalport Batang Pier last night in the 38th PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Barako Bull duplicated its impressive 79-75 win over the defending champions San Mig Coffee Mixers, taking the early leadership in the standings with a clean 2-0 (win-loss) card.
In the second game, Air21 escaped the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 74-70.
The Batang Pier started their campaign in the import-laced tournament with a tight 94-92 win over the Petron Blaze Boosters and appeared to have their second straight victory in the bag when they took an 86-76 lead with 1:25 left.
But the Energy Colas came roaring back, capped by a booming triple by Mark Macapagal that tied the contest at 88-all with nine tenths of a second left.
Gary David took a potential game-winning three but the shot was long, forcing the five-minute extension.
The Batang Pier couldn’t correct their mistakes in the extra period as they were held down to just two points while failing to stop the inspired Energy Colas.
Barako Bull point guard Josh Urbiztondo finished with 24 points on a six-of-15 shooting from three-point land and tallied four assists to cop the Best Player of the Game award.
Import Evan Brock put in solid numbers for Barako Bull, piling up 25 points and 18 rebounds. Jonas Villanueva and Danny Seigle added 18 and 16 points, respectively.
Globalport went home empty handed despite getting solid numbers from several players.
Japeth Aguilar finished with a team-high 23 markers and 10 rebounds, while Solomon Mercado scored 18 markers and dished a career-high 16 assists, eclipsing his previous high of 15 feeds.
Mercado nearly out-assisted the entire Barako Bull squad, which had 19 assists.
Gary David also had 18 points while import Justin Williams scored just 12 but had 27 rebounds.
Behind Williams, Globalport out-rebounded Barako Bull, 56-47.
The Energy Colas relied heavily on their three-point shooting to steal the win, going 13-for-40 from beyond the arc while Batang Pier was just eight-for-26.
BOX SCORES
BARAKO (98)- Brock 25, Urbiztondo 24, Villanueva 18, Seigle 16, Maliksi 9, Macapagal 6, Kramer 0, Pennisi 0, Allado 0.
GLOBALPORT (88)- Aguilar 23, Mercado 19, David 19, Williams 12, Miller 7, Yee 5, Salvador 3, Deutchman 0, Juntilla 0.
QUARTERSCORES: 21-19, 35-38, 60-58, 86-86, 98-88.