Chan’s winning basket gives E-Boosters 1st win

The Photokina Marketing franchise nailed its first win in the Philippine Basketball Association under a new banner, banking on Jeff Chan's endgame exploits in pulling the rug from under Philippine Cup runner-up Alaska Milk, 92-90, Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Chan scored the go-ahead basket on a tough fall-away shot then blocked Willie Miller's go-for-broke drive as Barako Bull finally broke into the win-column in the Motolite Fiesta Conference after a 0-2 start.


"It's very difficult for us going into today's game because we missed the winning line Friday against Coca-Cola. We only had one day to prepare for a comeback. But one big thing going for this new team, they want to prove something," said Barako Bull coach Leo Isaac.

"We've got our first win and, definitely, this win will change the course of this team," Isaac added.

Cornelius McFadgon tossed in a game-high 36 points and John Arigo had his breakout game with his new team, pumping in 15 points, but Chan proved to be Energy Boosters' biggest hero on his key plays in the dying seconds.

The Energy Boosters, formerly the Red Bull Barakos, had squandered a nine-point lead when Chan came to their rescue, knocking in a difficult fade-away shot to break the 90-all standoff with 5.7 seconds left to play.

The Barako Bull rookie from FEU himself preserved his heroics as he foiled Miller's attack in the closing seconds.

As a result, the All-Filipino finalists -- Alaska Milk and Talk n Text -- found themselves together in the cellar with identical 0-2 win-loss cards.

They are the only teams remaining winless in the season-ending, import-laced tourney.

It definitely didn't help that Galen Young again fouled up with much time left in the contest.

It was practically the same case as Alaska lost its first game against an importless San Miguel Beer squad, 89-93.

Willie Miller took charge for Alaska upon Young's exit but the two-time MVP winner went scoreless in the last two minutes of play.

Joe Devance buried two charities with 29 seconds left to force the game's last deadlock at 90-all.

Barako Bull immediately sued for time and designed a play for McFadgon which was anticipated by the Alaska defense.

But Chan rose to the occasion for the Energy Boosters.

Chan finished with 13 points, two blocks and one rebound in 19 minutes of action. (NC)

The scores:

Barako Bull 92 - McFadgon 36, Arigo 15, Chan 13, Espinas 11, Hubalde 10, Holper 4, Juntilla 3, Membrere 0, Sharma 0, Hrabak 0, Crisano 0.

Alaska 90 - Miller 23, Tenorio 18, Delacruz 12, De Vance 11, Young 10, Thoss 6, Fonacier 5, Hugnatan 4, Cariaso 1, Cablay 0.

Quarterscores: 14-20, 32-25, 65-67, 92-90.


http://www.pba.ph/content/view/2524/1/