Heavily criticized for forming a roster deemed by pundits as a collection of rag-tag players, the Barako Bull Energy Colas showed that they can’t be taken lightly as they started their 39th PBA Philippine Cup campaign with an easy 88-75 win over the Air21 Express last night at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Energy Colas drew flak after trading all their first round picks in the Rookie Draft and lost key players in separate deals. The team also parted ways with Rajko Toroman, the team’s team consultant but acted as head coach.
But if their performance last night is any indication, Barako Bull could spring a surprise in the season-opening tournament.
The Express started the game with four straight points but Barako Bull started to assert themselves behind Mark Isip and Mick Pennisi, who combined for 10 of the team’s next 14 points.
The Energy Colas seized the lead after the first period, 22-17, then limited the Express to just 11 points in the next period to take the lead at the bend, 48-28.
Barako Bull was never threatened after that and even built an eye-popping 63-30 elbowroom in the third.
Mark Isip paced the Energy Colas with 16 points, 10 of them in the pivotal first half. Ronjay Buenafe added 11 while Mark Macapagal and new recruit Denok Miranda pitched in 10 apiece.
Joseph Yeo topped the Express with 22 markers, while KG Canaleta contributed 18. Asi Taulava donated 10 for Air21, which played without new acquisition Mark Cardona.
BOX SCORES
BARAKO BULL (88)- Isip 16, Buenafe 11, Macapagal 10, Miranda 10, Intal 9, Jensen 8, Villanueva 6, Wilson 4, Miller 4, Pennisi 4, Fortuna 2, Marcelo 2, Peña 2.
AIR21 (75) – Yeo 22, Canaleta 18, Taulava 10, Ritualo 7, Sharma 6, Custodio 5, Menor 4, Camson 2, Espiritu 1, Burstcher 0, Arboleda 0, Manuel 0. QUARTERSCORES: 22-17; 48-28; 75-44; 88-75. /EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA