Barako Bull snaps Air 21’s winning streak

Saturday, 30 October 2010

MARK Isip and Sunday Salvacion provided the firepower as Barako Bull trounced Air 21 Express, 89-79, to notch its only second victory Friday in the 36th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) All-Filipino Cup

at the Araneta Coliseum. In a rather horrific offering that started the three-day nonstop action, the Energy Boosters showed they have enough arsenal to move away from the bottom of the standing by joining their victim Express in a four-way tie at the sixth to ninth spot with similar 2-3 slates.

“We just caught them (Air 21) napping. I told my team we are fighting a team, which came from a two-game winning streak and we are in a losing streak. Consistency at least creep into our system so we won this game,” said Barako Bull coach Junel Baculi referring to Air 21’s two straight wins, the first was 86-83 over Alaska on October 22 and against Derby Ace, 77-69, on October 16 in Naga City.

The 6’4” Isip, a 6th overall pick by Sta. Lucia Realty in 2006, worked on a solid game in the first half alone by scoring 16 points that put the Energy Boosters to a 13-point lead, 46-33, going into the third quarter.

Then came the 6’3” Salvacion, an 11th overall draft by Ginebra in 2003, who took over the scoring cudgels in the final half, which somehow doused cold water to the Express offense the rest of the way.

“We can not outshoot the other nine teams but we can out-defend them. I am always preaching that as a team if we can play hard and work hard we can win, but if we play individually, nothing will happen,” added Baculi.

A jumper by Isip moved the Energy Boosters to a big 20-point upper hand, 56-36, still 7:52 remaining in the third period. Then Salvacion stretched the gap to its biggest, 69-45, on a jumper.

Isip went on to come-up with his personal conference high 23 points and seven rebounds, while Salvacion settled with 15 and 13 points from Aris Dimaunahan.

Ronjay Buenafe was held to only 14 points this time for the Express; Carlo Sharma added 13 and 20 from Josh Urbiztondo.

FRANK CALAPRE