Mark Barroca of Smart-Gilas (right) and TY Tang of Rain or Shine battle for the loose ball during their game in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup Friday night at the Araneta Coliseum. The Nationals, playing as a guest team, won, 96-89. (Photo by BOB DUNGO JR.)

Game this Saturday (Cebu Coliseum)
5:00 p.m. — Coca-Cola vs San Miguel

Burger King blew an 18-point lead in the first half but had enough firepower left to hand Barako Bull its fourth straight defeat, 102-86, Friday night in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Sweet-shooting guard Ronjay Buenafe scattered 17 points, two rebounds, three assists and a steal for the Whoppers, who improved their record to three winds against five losses while dropping the Energy Boosters to 2-6.

Carlo Sharma came off the bench to add 14 points and three boards while Egay Billones added 11 points and Gary David contributed 10 markers.

Burger King coach Yeng Guiao credited his players for working hard on the defensive end, particularly in the fourth quarter when Barako Bull came within five points, 64-69, after trailling by 18 in the first half, 47-29.

A 14-4 run highlighted by a rare four-point play by Billones off a Yousif Aljamal foul gave the Whoppers an 83-68 advantage with 7:34 left.

“Mangyayari talaga na may run (Barako Bull) na hindi mapipigilan agad,” Guiao, whose team downed Coca-Cola, 106-97, last Wednesday, said.

“But the good thing is we’re able to recover from that by just trying to increase our energy on defense.

“It seems to work (improving on defense and free throw shooting). These are our problems. I hope this is the right formula for us,” he added as his team went 34-of-69 or 49.3 percent from the field and 27-of-37 or 73 percent from the free throw line.

Guiao said that the win and the seven-day rest will give them enough time to prepare for their next assignment against defending champion Talk ’N Text on November 27.

In the first game, Smart-Gilas hardly felt the absence of American import CJ Giles by downing Rain or Shine, 96-89.

First Game
SMART-GILAS 96 — Barracael 20, Aguilar 19, Ramos 15, Casio 11, Ballesteros 9, Tiu 8, Al Hussaini 8, Barroca 4, Ababou 2, Slaughter 0, Jazul 0, Cawaling 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 89 — Cruz 16, Norwood 14, Arana 12, Tang 10, Mercado 10, Reyes 10, Telan 8, Chan 7, Hrabak 2, Alfad 0, Dulay 0.
Quartes: 19-20, 39-44, 66-74, 96-89.

Second Game
BURGER KING 102 — Buenafe 17, Sharma 14, Billones 11, David 10, Lanete 9, Quinahan 9, Yee R. 9, Belga 7, Yee M. 6, Matias 5, Aban 3, Williams 2.
BARAKO BULL 86 — Menor 17, Hubalde 17, Aljamal 14, Najorda 11, Crisano 10, Belano 7, Alonzo 4, Sta Maria 2, Dimaunahan 2, Lao 2, Fernandez 0, Membrere 0.
Quarters: 29-16, 48-35, 69-60, 102-86.