Barako Bull nips fancied B-MEG in OT, earns share of PHL Cup lead

Barako Bull bucked a slow start and used a fiery second half assault to nip fancied B-MEG in overtime, 87-84, and grab a piece of the PBA Philippine Cup lead Saturday night at the Panabo Multi-Purpose Tourism and Sports Center in Davao. The Energy rallied from a 0-17 deficit in the first six minutes of the match, then survived the Llamados' fourth-quarter comeback, before getting their acts together in the extra period to pull off another stunning act in the season-opening tournament. Their fourth straight win—the longest so far in the All-Filipino meet—against a single loss, pushed the Energy into a three-way tie for the lead with Rain or Shine and defending champion Talk 'N Text. Two-time league Most Valuable Player (MVP) Willlie Miller won his personal match-up with B-MEG counterpart James Yap to lead Barako Bull with 19 points on 8-of-18 field goal shooting. Miller provided the spark when the Energy sprung back to life in the second quarter to moved to within two, 39-37, at the turn. But it was veteran Wynne Arboleda who bailed Barako in overtime as the stocky guard scored the go-ahead basket for the Energy, 86-84, with less than a minute left. A Peter June Simon miss and a Kerby Raymundo passing error, intended for James Yap in the final 1.2 seconds, doomed B-MEG as it dropped its fourth loss in six outings. A Jondan Salvador split free throw forged the final tally as James Yap's desperate three-pointer at the buzzer hardly touched the rim. James Yap finished with 20 points to pace B-MEG, which also got 15 from Raymundo, 12 from Roger Yap, and 11 from Simon. James Yap sent the game into overtime, 79-79, with a long three-pointer from the top of the key, with 1.8 seconds left in regulation. Barako had the chance to win the game, but Miller missed on a looping basket from beyond the arc at the buzzer. — JVP, GMA News