MANILA, Philippines - Import Sammy Monroe and new addition Al Vergara provided the firepower for Barako Coffee to pull off a 97-93 squeaker over Sta. Lucia Realty at the start of the KFC-PBA Fiesta Conference Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

Monroe finished with 39 points including crucial free throws in the dying seconds that preserved the win for the new-look Energy Coffee Masters.
Vergara contributed only 8 markers but none bigger than his two field goals in the last minute of the contest to give the team the needed cushion and hold off the rally of the Realtors.

“This is just one game, we have 17 more games to go,” said Barako Coffee head coach Junel Baculi, who also nailed his first win in his debut in the PBA.

“The management, headed by Boss George Chua, is really supportive to the team and the players immediately accepted their roles in my system and hopefully we can sustain this,” he added.


Barako Coffee added a number of players in its rosters including Baculi after getting financial support from Harbour Centre. The team signed up Vergara, Rob Wainwright and Jerwin Gaco to bolster its lineup.

Sta. Lucia import Anthony Johnson completed a three-point play to give the Realtors their last taste of the lead at 55-53 with 7:47 left in the third. Then Monroe took charge and anchored a 12-0 run to erect a 67-55 lead spread with 4:05 left in that stage.

Barako Coffee was still holding an 88-77 lead, but Johnson and Nelbert Omolon joined hands for their own 11-0 attack to tie the game for the last time at 88-all with 3:32 left in the game.

Monroe ended Barako Coffee’s scoring drought with free throws and Vergara hit back-to-back jumpers to give the team a 94-88 lead with 46 seconds remaining.

Johnson tried to put his team back quickly with a three-point play, 91-94, but Monroe sealed the win with three free throws.

Johnson led all scorers with 41 points on 12 of 17 shooting from the field. He also grabbed 13 rebounds for coach Boyet Fernandez. Gabby Espinas and Ryan Reyes chipped in 14 and 13 points respectively for the Realtors.
New recruit Bonbon Custodio debuted for Sta. Lucia with 8 points. He was traded by San Miguel for Joseph Yeo.

The scores:

Barako Coffee 97 - Monroe 39, Najorda 12, Vergara 8, Reyes 8, Wainwright 8, Menor 5, Dimaunahan 5, Duncil4, Aljamal 4, Gaco 2, Faundo 2, Alonzo 0.

Sta. Lucia 93 - Johnson 41, Espinas 14, Reyes 13, Custodio 8, Williams 6, Mendoza 4, Misolas 3, Omolon 2, Aquino 2, Waters 0, Urbiztondo 0, Belano 0.

Quarterscores: 25-23; 44-46; 78-68; 97-93.
 
Kings nip Texters

In the second game, Barangay Ginebra defeated Talk ‘N Text, 97-90, due to the 33-point performance of NBA veteran Awvee Storey.

The Kings trailed big in the third period but Storey and Mark Caguioa combined for 23 points to lead Ginebra’s rally in the fourth period.

Storey also grabbed 16 rebounds, dished out 2 assists and had one steal and block in 38 minutes of action. “He’s not flashy. He’s a hardworker and hopefully he’ll be a good compliment to our locals,” said Kings mentor Jong Uichico.

Shawn Daniels and Mark Cardona each had 19 points for the Tropang Texters, who traded away Yancy de Ocampo and Renren Ritualo in a trade during the break.

De Ocampo landed with Ginebra in a separate deal but failed to score in his debut as he missed all of his four shots in just 12 minutes of play.

source: abs-cbnnews.com