• BOOSTERS AIM TO PUT UP DEFENSIVE WALL AROUND ENERGY

Published on October 6, 2011

BY TAKING advantage of an opponent’s unfamiliarity with a new system, Petron Blaze managed to set
off its PBA Philippine Cup campaign on a very high note.

It’s now time for a follow-up, but against a team which has no such major concern.

The Boosters take on a vastly-retooled Barako Bull squad Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo
City, with the former hoping to vault into the early solo lead.

The recently-crowned Governors Cup champion put itself in a position to take pole position by
overcoming fellow pre-tournament favorite B-MEG 73-69 last Wednesday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Unlike the Llamados, who Agustin said still has to fully adjust to new coach Tim Cone’s triangle
offense, the Energy is an entirely different case.

“Hindi pwedeng i-take for granted ang Barako,” stressed Agustin. “Barako is a strong team,
puro beterano, kaya we have to be ready.”

Illustrating Agustin’s point is a Barako crew that features the likes of Willie Miller, Danny
Seigle, Sunday Salvacion, Dorian Pena, Don Carlos Allado, Jondan Salvador, Paul Artadi, Mick Pennisi
and Wynne Arboleda, with rookies Dylan Ababou, Allein Maliksi and Paul Sorongan chief among those
expected to provide support. 

The team formerly known as Air21 has been together for only close to a month, however, and this
relatively short time is the only cause of concern for head coach Junel Baculi.

“We have a mix of veterans and good athletic rookies. Our chances of winning will depend on
chemistry, how soon we can achieve it. Tomorrow is a good test,” said Baculi.

For Agustin, it is a simple matter of his charges doing again what they splendidly did to B-MEG for
the follo-wup win that would put the recent Governors Cup champion ahead of Rain or Shine and
Powerade, which also won their respective opening matches.

“Maganda ang defense namin, maganda execution. Iyun talaga ang pinaka-objective namin.” noted
Agustin of the B-MEG game. “Sinabi ko na nga, basta we keep on working on our defense mas maganda
magiging tsansa namin.”

That attitude came to the fore in the last two minutes when the Boosters held the Llamados to
0-for-4 field shooting.

Dondon Hontiveros hurt his knee in a freak accident. He was waiting to sub in the second period when
he banged his knee on the sidelines after being hit by a couple of scrambling players going after
the loose ball. 

Still, Petron did encounter much of a problem in offense with Chris Lutz, a product of Smart Gilas
picked at No. 3 overall in the draft, scoring 19 points and Alex Cabagnot adding 17, including seven
of his team’s last nine points. Arwind Santos also lorded it over the boards, hauling down 19
rebounds on top of 11 points.