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Slow-starting Coca-Cola nips Barako in Fiesta Cup
Written by staff   
Saturday, 07 March 2009 01:48

Slow-starting Coca-Cola nips Barako in Fiesta CupCoca-Cola bucked a slow start and the ejection of import JJ Sullinger to beat the Barako Bull, 106-103, Friday night in the Motolite-PBA Fiesta Conference at the Astrodome.

The Tigers rallied back from as many as a 12-point first half deficit and then played without Sullinger midway through the third period onwards following a flagrant foul 2 he committed against rookie Jeff Chan to notch their first win in the tournament featuring imports.

With an even 1-1 card, the team hopes to get even better as it awaits original choice James Penny to take the place of Sullinger.

Penny, who steered Red Bull (now Barako Bull) to the 2005-06 Fiesta Conference title, is still playing in the Australian National Basketball League.

“We are going to follow the original plan. Sullinger is only a replacement to James Penny and he knows that," said Tigers coach Kenneth Duremdes.

Sullinger was thrown out at the 5:48 mark of the third period, going to the showers with 18 points and nine rebounds.

The count was tied at 62 when Sullinger left the court, and the Energy Boosters were still up 95-92 when Scooter McFadgon connected on a jumper with six minutes left to play.

But the Tigers unloaded a 10-2 run highlighted by two nifty passes by Alex Cabagnot to Ronjay Buenafe and Asi Taulava before Coca-Cola heaved a huge sigh of relief when McFadgon muffed a three-point shot with two seconds left, avoiding overtime play.

Taulava poured in eight of his 13 points in the fourth quarter to go with 14 rebounds, Buenafe came off the bench to score 18, and Cabagnot dished off two crucial assists down the stretch as the Tigers bounced back from their 110-103 loss to Ginebra last Wednesday.

McFadgon topscored for the Energy Boosters (0-2) with 29 points while Chan had 20 and Gabby Espinas contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Tags: PBA  Basketball  
 
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