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By Joel Orellana, Reporter
RED BULL emerged as a tougher
team in crunch time as it repeatedly diffused Talk ’N Text’s
uprisings to post a 107-101 win in Game 1 of the semifinal round of
TNT-PBA Fiesta Conference Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Larry Fonacier delivered the
knockout punches for the Bulls, hitting 11 of his 14 points in the
pivotal fourth quarter to help his team secure an early 1-0 lead in
the best-of-seven series.
James Penny led the defending
champion with 26 points, 18 rebounds and 5 blocks while Cyrus Baguio
and Leo Najorda added 13 and 12 markers, respectively.
JJ Sullinger paced the Phone Pals
with 27 points and 13 rebounds while Anthony Washington chipped in
19.
Mark Cardona and Don Allado each
had 15 points for coach Derrick Pumaren.
TNT, which came from a tiring
quarterfinal series against Air21 that went to distance, threatened
at 86-87 on Washington’s 12-point explosion, 6:22 left.
But Fonacier banged in
back-to-back jumpers and Mike Hrabak hit a short jumper to halt the
run and push Red Bull’s lead back to 93-86, 4:26 remaining.
After Allado sank two free throws
on Celino Cruz’s foul, 99-102, Penny found Fonacier on the right
flank and the former Ateneo star hurled a long three-pointer off
Felix Belano that hit the mark to give Red Bull a 105-99 cushion
with 44.9 ticks left.
Talk ’N Text’s defeat was
hastened by Cardona’s pair of booboos in the closing seconds.
First, Cardona failed to capitalize a 3-on-1-fastbreak play as it
resulted to a jumpball between Sullinger and Cruz.
Cardona recovered the possession
but was too tentative in driving the lane that resulted in another
as Cruz anticipated his kicked-out pass. Cruz was fouled and sealed
the win with two more free throws.
Scores:
Red Bull 107–Penny 26, Fonacier
14, Baguio 13, Najorda 12, Valenzuela 9, Alvarez 8, Robinson 7,
Hrabak 7, Sharma 4, Ybanez 3, Bugia 2, Cruz 2, Camaso 0.
Talk ’N Text 101–Sullinger
27, Washington 19, Cardona 15, Allado 15, carey 10, Billones 8, de
Ocampo 5, Belano 2, Fran 0.
Quarters: 19-22, 44-45, 75-72,
107-101.
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