Suddenly, the Red Bull Barakos are drawing lots of attention, and they’re looking more and more like a certified title contender for the Philippine Basketball Association’s most coveted championship with each game.

Even coach Yeng Guiao is amazed by the turn of events, saying what his troops have accomplished at this point is “beyond expectations.”

How the Barakos turned their fortunes around was indeed remarkable, especially for a team that didn’t even merit a second look from self-proclaimed experts coming into the season after losing its star power—Lordy Tugade, Enrico Villanueva and Larry Fonacier—who were traded one after the other late last season.

“We know well enough that if we work hard, we can beat any team in the league,” Guiao said.

Red Bull’s amazing display of teamwork midway through the first elimination round led to a string of four victories that saw Cyrus Baguio and as well as Leo Najorda reach the age of maturity and blossom into superstardom.

“Everybody is playing to [his] potentials, you wouldn’t know who are the starters and who are the bench players,” Guiao pointed out.

The league’s hottest team attempts to improve on its 7-3 (win-loss) record and narrow the gap separating them and front-running Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants (9-2) when the Barakos face off with the Coca-Cola Tigers this afternoon.

Their ability to handle tough situations makes the Barakos the top dog in their 4:50 p.m. date with the Tigers at the Araneta Coliseum.

In the meantime, the Alaska Aces also try to stretch their winning streak to four games when they test the mettle of Sta. Lucia Realtors in the day’s other scheduled match at 7:20 p.m.

“We’re just riding the momentum. I don’t know how far it will take us but we’ll just keep going,” Guiao said.

The Tigers bring up the rear of the standings with a 2-8 record but they will be coming into the game in high spirits following a 94-79 rout of the Sta. Lucia Realtors (4-6) on Saturday that snapped an eight-game losing spell and boost their confidence.

If only Asi Taulava, who tallied 26 points and conference-high 24 rebounds, could approximate that performance and get yet another inspiring support from Mark Telan and Kennth Duremdes, the Tigers might pull another stunner.

Winning The Only Thing

With nary a gold to show—and its Southeast Asian (SEA) neighbors gobbling up most of the mints in the preopening events in shooting—Team Philippines faces an uphill climb in its defense of the overall championship when the 24th SEA Games formally begins tomorrow in the province of Nakhon Rachasima and two other satellite venues in Thailand.

Trouble brewing in Team Donaire?

AS he expects several major challenges to come his way next year, Filipino world flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. is appealing to his American promoter to treat him like a real champion.

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS fought five grueling sets to beat San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 20-25, 25-23, 27-29, 25-15, 15-9, in Game Three yesterday to nab the Shakey’s V-League Second Conference title at the packed The Arena in San Juan.

Suddenly, the Red Bull Barakos are drawing lots of attention, and they’re looking more and more like a certified title contender for the Philippine Basketball Association’s most coveted championship with each game.

On the trading block?

IF reports are true, Talk ’N Text is not done yet changing its roster as it finds a formidable team capable of winning the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup title.

Tambunting steers Ventures Link on top of board

BAGUIO CITY—It was AAV-Robros-Ventures Link’s time to shine on a sunny Tuesday as it produced an opening-round 117 points en route to the overall leadership in “Fil” A division of the 58th Fil-Am Invitational Golf tournament.

Greenside Chip: Fil-Am sidelights: Of numbers and age

BAGUIO CITY—The Fil-Am Golf Invitational never misses to hit the 1,000-mark in terms of the number of participants each year and organizers want to keep it that way forever and maintain its status in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest amateur tournament.

Ask Coach E: Coaches’ Code of Conduct

A few people may not be aware of it, but there is such thing as a coaches’ Code of Conduct. This is a set of standards and guidelines after which coaches must pattern behavior in mentoring basketball.