Barako import powers team to 2nd straight win

Leroy Hickerson had another productive outing, resulting to yet another win for the Barako Bull Energy, who trounced the Air21 Express, 109-100, last night in the 37th PBA Governors’ Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

It was the second straight win for the Energy since they acquired Hickerson, who tallied another 30-point game.

Hickerson, who once played for the Express, scored 32 points in Barako Bull’s impressive, 111-107 win over the Petron Blaze Boosters last Friday.

Last night, Hickerson was hot again, exploding for a team-high 38 points as the Energy posted their third win in five games.

The win allowed the Energy to stay in the top six. Tournament format states that only the top six teams will advance to the semifinal round while the bottom four will be eliminated.

Mick Pennisi and Leo Najorda backed Hickerson with 14 and 10 points, respectively.

Zac Graham finished with a game-high 41 points, another big scoring night that went to the drain as the Express absorbed their fourth loss in five games.

Air21 dropped to 10th spot along with the Alaska Aces, who were still playing the mighty B-Meg Llamados as of this writing.

James Sena scored 16 points, Mark Isip  had 10, while Nelbert Omolon chipped in 10 for the Express, who were only down by one point at the first first period, 32-33.

The Energy started to pull away in the second quarter before posting double-digit leads in the second half, including an, 80-69 lead, heading to the final period.

BOX SCORES

BARAKO BULL (109)- Hickerson 38, Pennisi 14, Kramer 10, Najorda 9, Cruz 9, Miller 8, Allado 8, Cervantes 7, Tubid 6, Weinstein 0, Sharma 0.

AIR21 (100)- Graham 41, Sena 16, Isip 11, Omolon 10, Hubalde 6, Salamat 5, Arboleda 5, Espiritu 4, Menor 2, Sison 0, Faundo 0, Ritualo 0. QUARTERSORES: 33-23, 53-47, 80-69, 109-100.