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MANILA, Philippines – The Barako Bull Energy overhauled a double-digit halftime deficit and held off Meralco in the endgame to register a 105-99 victory and remain undefeated in the 2015 PBA Governors Cup Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Joseph Yeo came off the bench to score 28 points along with six assists for Barako, as they overcame an 11-point halftime deficit to notch their fourth win in as many games.
“I think, itong team namin, maraming pahihirapan,” said Yeo. “Hindi pa namin nakakalaban ang San Miguel, Ginebra, mga malalakas na team. We’re just happy na 4-0 kami ngayon.”
The Bolts led by as much as 19 points in the opening quarter, 31-12, as Meralco import Andre Emmett ran rampant. The Energy began trimming the lead in the second period, then opened the third quarter with a 17-6 run that allowed them to knot the game at 58-all.
It was a nip-and-tuck game from that point on, but Barako took the lead when RR Garcia drilled a triple than made it 85-83 with 8:06 left in the game.
Emmett tied the game for the last time at 91-all with 5:21 to go, before two free throws by Yeo kicked off a 6-0 run – capped by another triple by Garcia – that allowed Barako to take the lead for good.
The Bolts were still able to trim the lead to one point after an awkward triple by Sean Anthony and a lay-up by Cliff Hodge, but the Energy were able to hit key shots down the stretch to keep them at bay.
“If one or two guys are off or has an off-night, somebody will step up,” said Barako coach Koy Banal after the game. “Today, it is RR again, and Justin Chua, and of course, Joseph has 28 points.”
JC Intal, who had been leading the charge for Barako in their first three contests, made only two of 10 field goals for five points, as he and Dylan Ababou struggled to contain Emmett.
“Si JC and Dylan, we had no choice but to put them against Emmett,” said Banal, pointing out that Ababou was quickly whistled for two early fouls.
Barako import Liam McMorrow had 19 points and 23 rebounds, as the Energy controlled the boards, 55-41, and had 28 second chance points as opposed to only eight by Meralco. Their pressure defense also led to 25 points off 23 Meralco turnovers.
Garcia finished with 14 points, and Chua was 3-of-3 from the field for 12 points along with six rebounds.
Emmett finished with 32 points, seven rebounds, and six assists for Meralco, but Hodge was the only other Bolt in double digits with 17 markers.
Meralco dropped to 2-3 this conference.
The scores:
Barako Bull 105 — Yeo 28, McMorrow 19, Garcia 14, Pascual 12, Chua 12, Lanete 8, Intal 5, wilson 3, Lastimosa 2, Ababou 2, Hubalde 0, Maierhofer 0.
Meralco 99 — Emmett 32, Hodge 17, Cortez 9, David 9, Ando 8, Anthony 7, Guevarra 7, Ferriols 4, Dilinger 2, Nabong 2, Ildefonso 2, Sena 0.
Quarters: 18-33; 41-52; 75-73; 105-99.
Photo: PBA Images
This story was republished with permissions from ABS-CBNnews.com.
