Down 24 eight minutes left, E-Boosters find way to trip TNT

In the biggest come-from-behind win in the season, Barako Bull came charging back from a 24-point deficit in the last eight minutes to stun Talk n Text, 135-133, in the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum Sunday night.

Scooter McFadgon scored 16 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter, fueling the Barako Bull uprising capped by two free throws by Jojo Duncil in the last 5.5 seconds for the final count.

The Energy Boosters improved their record to 2-4 while dealing the Tropang Texters their third loss against two wins.

"Hindi masamang tsumamba. Eh, binibigay sa amin, eh di kunin," said Barako Bull coach Leo Isaac.

The Texters had looked on their way to a third straight win, enjoying a 12-point lead at 132-120 before running into a maze of errors and misses in the last two minutes of play.

Their misery started with Jimmy Alapag committing a passing error in a three-against-one fastbreak play.

McFadgon parlayed that Alapag booboo into a three-pointer, igniting a 13-0 run that pushed Barako Bull ahead at 133-132 with 36.9 seconds left.

Harvey Carey tied the count at 133-all on a split charities off Larry Rodriguez's sixth and final count 13 seconds later.

Then came Duncil winning it for the Energy Boosters as the former UST stalwart, drawing a foul from Macmac Cardona on a drive with 5.5 ticks left, coolly sank the deciding free throws.

Ranidel de Ocampo had a chance to salvage the game for Talk n Text but the 6-foot-4 forward missed a make-or-break drive at the buzzer.

"Down by 24, we just told ourselves not to give up, and we just kept on pushing and pushing," said Isaac.

"Mga reserves na ang naglaro sa amin -- Mike Hrabak, Warren Ybanez and Larry Rodriguez -- noong huli. Ang bilin namin lagi sa kanila magpakita, pag nabigyan ng pagkakataon. Yon ang ginawa nila," said Isaac.

Hrabak, Ybanez and Rodriguez had their significant contribution in the amazing win -- the biggest come-from-behind victory since Magnolia overcame a 25-point deficit in a 96-93 decision over Talk n Text during the 2007-08 Fiesta Conference.

The Texters and the Energy Boosters engaged in a torrid offensive battle in the first half with each team shooting above 55 percent.

Tiras Wade had had near double-double numbers right in the first two quarters, scattering 17 points and grabbing eight rebounds as the Texters took the half at 76-64.

Wade, Alapag and Jason Castro got TnT to a strong start and Mark Cardona sustained the pace coming off the bench as the Texters erected a huge margin right in the first quarter at 47-30.

The Texters ripped the game apart in the opening period while shooting 76 percent as against the Energy Boosters' 45.8-percent clip.

The Energy Boosters, however, patiently worked their way, reducing the deficit to single digit in the third quarter. (NC)

The scores

Barako Bull 135 -- McFadgon 37, Espinas 17, Hubalde 16, Juntilla 14, Chan 13, Rodriguez 11, Duncil 9, Sharma 6, Hrabak 6, Najorda 4, Crisano 2, Ybanez 0.

Talk n Text 133 -- Wade 33, Cardona 19, Alapag 19, Castro 13, De Ocampo R. 11, Dillinger 10, Carey 10, De Ocampo Y. 9, Ritualo 7, Peek 2.

Quarterscores: 30-47, 64-76, 95-110, 135-133.


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