BURGER King battered Barako Bull, 102-86, Friday in the 35th Philippine Basketball Association-KFC Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
In the second game, the Alaska Aces pulled off a thrilling 110-106 win over Talk ‘N Text and raced to their seventh win in eight games. The Texters took their third loss in seven games.

The Whoppers responded to the call of Coach Yeng Guiao, who wanted to put the Japeth Aguilar controversy and the suspension of Wynne Arboleda behind so that they get out of a slump.

Guiao got what he wanted with Gary David, Ronjay Buenafe and Egay Billones combining for 38 points to secure the Whoppers’ third win in eight matches and their first back-to-back triumph following their 106-97 victory over the Coca-Cola Tigers on Wednesday.

“I hope this is the right formula for us. We were trying to simulate the fatigue factor and the pressure when the real game is on. It’s not repetition but simulation of what is happening during the game,” said Guiao.

And with its good defense, the Whoppers were able to sustain their usual running game that enabled them to keep their lead, 62-55, from 48-35 at the half.

Guiao said they will spend their week-long rest sharpening their shooting before facing an acid test against Talk ‘N Text on November 27.

The Energy Boosters, who suffered their sixth setback in eight games and their fourth in a row, tried to regroup and cut down the gap to only 6 points, 60-66, on Yusof Aljamal’s back-to-back baskets with only 31 seconds left in the third period.

But Buenafe and Chico Lanete came back with a combined 8 points that widened the Whoppers lead back to 12 points, 78-66, still 8:40 remaining.

Buenafe led the Whoppers with 17 points, Carlo Sharma added 14, Egay Billones finished with 11 and 10 came from David.

Rookie Ogie Menor and Paolo Hubalde topscored for the Energy Boosters with 17 apiece, while Aljamal settled with 14 and 11 came from Leo Najorda.  

FRANK CALAPRE