Coffee Over Milk

(From PBA)

Finally, all the gears clicked for Barako Energy Coffee.

Behind Sammy Monroe’s 30 points and 14 rebounds, the Energy Coffee Masters pulled off a man-sized 106-98 over Alaska Sunday in the PBA Fiesta Conference at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Unlike in the past, it was not only Monroe who sparkled this time as the likes of Leo Najorda, Reed Juntilla and Yousif Aljamal chipped in more than their fair share to fuel their charge to their first victory since an opening day win against Sta. Lucia Realty.

“I told my players it’s been a while since we last celebrated, so why not try and go for it today,” related coach Junel Baculi.

In the end, Barako was rewarded with its second win in eight outings, lifting it out of the company of former cellarmate Air21.

The victory may also have extended Monroe’s stay here.

Following a 93-80 loss to B-Meg Derby Ace last April 21, it was Baculi who expressed dissatisfaction with the perimeter-playing Monroe, who he said was not the kind of inside-outside reinforcement they needed.

Baculi also related a meeting to decide the fate of Monroe was held during the All-Star weekend, but no decision was reached. The tactician was adopting a different tone after Sunday night’s game.

“It’s just the norm,” Baculi explained. “If you’re losing, you put the blame on the import. But I told him the (reports) are not true.”

Monroe just shrugged his shoulders, maintaining he’ll continue to do his part but said it’s not all up to him. He claimed he has seen some positive signs before the morale-boosting win.

“The way we practiced, I’ve seen some progress and as long as we all continue to work hard we’ll continue to give ourselves a good chance of winning.”

Sunday night was a case in point.

Najorda scattered 18 points and Juntilla and Aljamal spiked their respective 16 and 15 points with some clutch baskets in the fourth quarter to preserve the win that first became a possibility when Barako twice led by 11 points early.

“We did everything coach told us to do, we ran our offense, kept our composure. The whole team was confident,” Monroe pointed out.

The loss cut short Alaska’s three-game winning streak and left it with an even 3-3 win-loss record in the company of idle Barangay Ginebra and Rain or Shine.

Diamon Simpson had 24 points and a game-high 17 rebounds while Joe Devance, LA Tenorio, Cyrus Baguio and Reynel Hugnatan added at least 11 points each.

Yet Hugnatan missed three free throws and Simpson two, the last enabling Barako Coffee to hold on to a 100-98 lead in the last 1:53 of the game.

Monroe’s defiance of Alaska’s box-in-one defense against him reached its highest peak when he pulled up for a 10-foot jumper before Aljamal, third placer in the recent All-Star Three-Point Shootout, drained a triple to cap a 12-point fourth period and make it 105-98, only 36 ticks left.

“Sa plays kasi ni coach, kahit sino ang malibre, p’wedeng tumira. Nagkataon lang na nagkaroon ng kompiyansa,” said Aljamal, who accounted for two of Barako Coffee’s season-high 12 triples.

Juntilla’s career-high tying output was also capped by his third trey of the game, giving the Coffee Masters some breathing room after Baguio and Hugnatan led Alaska back to within 94-97.

Alaska was simply a sorry sight in the endgame, blowing its chances to salvage it when Tenorio committed a passing error and Simpson not only missing his charities but also flubbing a reverse alley-oop attempt off a timeout.

It was also a sad ending for Simpson, who kept Alaska in the thick of the fight with nine third quarter points, enabling the Aces to stay within 68-72 going into the final quarter.

Ironically, it was while Monroe was sitting out a six-minute stretch spanning the first two periods that Barako Coffee made its biggest push yet, rallying most behind Najorda, Al Vergara and Aljamal for a 12-4 surge and their first 11-point lead at 39-28.

Monroe returned and his short stab made it a 41-30 count, before Devance, Simpson and Tenorio kept Alaska within 42-47 at the half.

The scores:

Barako Coffee 106 - Monroe 30, Najorda 18, Juntilla 16, Aljamal 15, Dimaunahan 8, Vergara 7, Reyes 6, Gaco 4, Alonzo 2, Hubalde 0.

Alaska 98 - Simpson 24, De Vance 17, Tenorio 14, Baguio 13, Hugnatan 11, Dela Cruz 6, Fonacier 5, Thoss 5, Eman 3.

Quarterscores: 24-21, 47-42, 72-68, 106-98.