Barako makes triumphant debut

Games Wednesday (Araneta Coliseum)
5 p.m. – Coca-Cola vs
Barako
7:30 p.m. – San Miguel vs Air21

Barako Energy Coffee, featuring a retooled lineup playing under new coach Junel Baculi, made a triumphant debut in the 2010 PBA Fiesta
Conference, outfighting Sta. Lucia Realty, 97-93, at
the Araneta Coliseum.

Import Sammy Monroe dished out a solid
double-double job and new local recruits Al Vergara, Rob Wainwright and Jerwin Gaco put in significant help as the Energy Coffee Masters went to a
winning start after finishing dead last in the recent Philippine Cup.

“I really believe that with hard work, we can win games. The goal is to
come out of the rut. We don’t want a repeat of our performance in the
last conference,” said Baculi, the team’s new coach taking over from Leo Isaac.

“It’s good to win our first game and it doesn’t stop
there. It’s just the first game. There’s 17 more, so it’s still a long,
long way to go,” Baculi added.

Monroe, an all-playoff teamer and
co-playoff MVP with the Rochester Zeniths in the 2007-08 Premier Basketball League, had an impressive first game in the local pro league, churning out 39 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in 39 minutes of action.

Also a veteran of the Mexican league where he once was a second leading scorer, Monroe personally clinched
the Barako win with a rebound and three free throws in the last 11
seconds.

“I would like to think we’re going to finish on top. I
hate to lose so expect me to play with all my heart every night. I’ll be aggressive and you’ll see a lot of entertainment,” said Monroe.

Vergara, a PBA returnee
after a stint with the Singapore Slingers in the Asean Basketball
League (ABL), was a big help, knocking in back-to-back baskets
that gave the Energy Coffee Masters a six-point spread, 94-88, with 1:25 left to play.

“He’s been there before. He’s a veteran. It’s just a matter of giving him the confidence. He’s aching to prove that he
belongs,” said Baculi of Vergara, who had a brief stint with Purefoods in 2009.

Vergara finished with eight points, the same output delivered by Wainwright –
another PBA returnee from the ABL. Wainwright went 2-of-2 from beyond
the arc and added a two-pointer and three rebounds in 18 minutes of
play.

The entire team was 37-of-69 percent from the field – the
biggest for the franchise in the last six conferences.

The Energy Foods and Drinks ball club went on a decline in the last three years,
finishing 10th and last in the league’s last three tourneys.

Monroe poured in 17 points in the third quarter, fuelling a hot charge that
opened double-digit leads for Barako.

Anthony Johnson and Kelly Williams spearheaded a fourth-quarter Sta. Lucia chase but the Realtors failed to sustain the effort, losing steam at the finish.

The Realtors,
who trailed by 12 points four times, pulled even at 88-all entering the
last two minutes of the game.

Monroe himself put Barako back on
top on two free throws off Bitoy Omolon, then Vergara had his crucial
back-to-back hits, giving the Coffee Masters the 94-88 margin.

Going down the drain was Johnson’s own double-double game (41 points and 13
rebounds).

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