Games tomorrow: (Cuneta Astrodome)

5:15 p.m. -- Meralco vs. Talk ‘N Text
7:30 p.m. -- Rain or Shine vs. Powerade


B-MEG fought back from a 14-point deficit in the third quarter, and then held its breath as two-time MVP Willie Miller missed an overtime-sending bank shot in the final two seconds to eke out an 88-86 win over Barako Bull, its second straight in the PBA

Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Llamados refused to be torn apart when the Energy erected a 55-41 advantage, coming furiously back behind import Denzel Bowles and Joe Devance before hanging tough down the stretch to establish some momentum going into their next two tough games against Petron and Talk ‘N Text.

“It’s a sprint. Our next two opponents are Petron and Talk ‘N Text. Imagine the pressure had we split our first two games,” said B-Meg coach Tim Cone. “So you have to understand that we had to win our first two games to get some pressure off.”

The Llamados confront the Boosters on Feb. 19 and then the Tropang Texters on the 29th.

B-Meg claimed the solo lead with the win, something that’s critical in this tournament since the conference only calls for a nine-game elimination round wherein four teams will be eliminated right away.

Devance scored 26 points and Bowles survived foul trouble to collect 19 points and 13 rebounds. James Yap added 14 points.

DerMarr Johnson led Barako Bull with 21, but the former first-round pick in the NBA went scoreless in the fourth quarter and only had two the entire second half. Don Allado contributed 14 points while Mick Pennisi had 12 points.

Yet even though Johnson went out of sync at a stretch he was needed the most, the Energy still had chances to win the ball game.

Miller, brought back into game with 4:11 left in the fourth quarter gave Barako Bull its last taste of the lead at 83-81.

But the Llamados scored six straight points – six coming from Devance, and it was not until Miller hit a booming triple with 11.1 seconds left to play that Barako Bull had its next field goal to make it a one-point ball game, 87-86.

Urbiztondo was fouled and headed to the free-throw line. But the point guard split his charities, and Barako Bull sued for time to map out at least an overtime-sending basket.

Miller was the man who was tasked to do just that, and he almost succeeded. He dribbled past Roger Yap at the top, then managed to fake off three defenders – Marc Pingris, Devance, and JC Intal. He had a clear look at the basket but his shot hit the back-board too hard and the ball bounced off the rim.

In the final four minutes, the Energy went 1-of-8 from the field and 0-of-2 from the free throw line, with both missed committed by Miller.

The Energy dropped to a 1-1 (win-loss) record after opening the tournament in impressive fashion, a 98-78 victory over Alaska.

In that game, Barako Bull used a big third-quarter run to pull away from the Aces. This time, it can’t do the same.


The scores

B-Meg (88) -- Devance 26, Bowles 19, Yap J. 14, Pingris 9, Intal 8, Urbiztondo 4, De Ocampo 3, Reavis 2, Yap R. 2, Barroca 1, Simon 0.

Barako Bull (86) -- Johnson 21, Allado 14, Pennisi 12, Miller 9, Tubid 8, Pena 7, Arboleda 5, Salvador 4, Lanete 2, Andaya 2, Najorda 2.

Quarterscores: 26-23, 41-52, 69-71, 88-86.