Tigers buck Sullinger ejection to notch first win

Coca-Cola played most part of the second half without import J.J. Sullinger but Mark Macapagal warmed up in the third quarter and hit the go-ahead basket with 3:08 remaining to lead the Tigers past the Barako Bull, 106-103, Friday night at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Tigers trailed by 13 points in the first half and were staring at a 94-97deficit with under four minutes to play before turning the game around with a 7-0 run.



Sophomore shooting guard Ronjay Buenafe tied the count with a 3-point shot with 3:42 remaining and after Red Bull import Scooter McFadgon missed on his attempt, Macapagal scored from the left corner to put the Tigers ahead.

Reed Juntilla missed from 12 feet on the Energy Boosters’ next possession and Asi Taulava cornered the rebound then scored off an assist by Alex Cabagnot to make the count 102-97. Coca-Cola never trailed again after that.

“It was a total team effort,” said Coca-Cola coach Kenneth Duremdes, adding the no-hand check rule worked to their advantage.

It was another frustrating loss for Barako Bull, which controlled the game for most part and looked headed to an easy victory when the Coca-Cola import was banished in the third quarter and the Energy Boosters came up with an empty tank in the closing minutes.

Sullinger left the game with 5:48 left in the third quarter after being assessed with a flagrant foul penalty two for planting his feet on the “landing spot” of Barako Bull’s Jeffrey Chan.

The offense will cost Sullinger at least P20,000 although a suspension is not likely after the PBA Board of Governors amended the rule during the conference break.

Buenafe, who came off the bench, and Sullinger scored 18 points a piece to show the way for the Tigers, who bounced back from a 103-110 defeat against defending champion Barangay Ginebra last Wednesday.

It also was the Tigers’ third victory in as many games against the Barakos this season.

Macapagal, who went scoreless in the first half, scored 11 of his 16 points in the third quarter as the Tigers slowly clawed back into the game.

“Hopefully, we could continue winning,” said Duremdes, adding that they are still awaiting for the arrival of James Penny.

McFadgon led all scorers with 29 points, Chan added 20 including 4-of-8 shooting from the arc and Gabby Espinas had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Barakos, who picked up their second straight loss in the season ending tournament. They fell 83-91 against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters last Sunday.

McFadgon scored 14 points, going 4-of-8 from the field and 6-for-6 from the line in the first half to lead a balance scoring by the Energy Boosters.

Barako Bull posted the game’s biggest lead at 48-35 on two free throws by McFadgon with 3:52 left in the second quarter before winding up with a 54-43 lead at halftime. (DBC)

The scores:

Coca-Cola 106 - Buenafe 18, Sullinger 18, Macapagal 16, Cabagnot 14, Belasco 14, Taulava 13, Calimag 5, Telan 4, Rizada 2, Santos 2, Dimaunahan 0, Avenido 0.

Barako Bull 103 - Mcfadgon 29, Chan 20, Espinas 16, Sharma 8, Najorda 7, Juntilla 6, Crisano 5, Ybanez 3, Hrabak 3, Arigo 3, Duncil 2, Rodriguez 1.

Quarterscores: 23-26, 43-54, 78-75, 106-103.


http://www.pba.ph/content/view/2519/1/