SOL Mercado debuted in style for Barako Bull, leading the Energy to a 92-70 victory over the import-less Blackwater on Wednesday in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
Acquired in a trade with GlobalPort in exchange for Dennis Miranda, Mercado teamed up with Chico Lanete in the big fourth-quarter run to pull away from a tight contest and keep the Elite winless in the PBA.
“Sol delivered for us. We’re missing the services of Denok [Miranda] but we got a gem as well in Sol Mercado,” Blackwater Head Coach Koy Banal said.
Mercado finished with 20 points on seven-of-11 shooting from the field. He added three assists in just 28 minutes of play.
Solomon Alabi had a 20-20 game in his league debut for the Energy as the Blackwater had no answer for him with Chris Charles missing the match because of a hamstring injury.
“I can’t ask for more from my import. He delivered. He was the ring protector. I like his attitude,” said Banal of Alabi who had 21 points, 22 rebounds and five blocks for Barako Bull.
Despite playing without a reinforcement, the Elite managed to stay in the game and even cut the Energy’s double-digit lead in the third canto and sliced it to 58-62 entering the fourth.
But a 13-0 assault by Mercado and Lanete opened the third period for Barako Bull and erected a 75-58 spread with 9:24 remaining.
Barako Bull last threatened at 70-81 on Bambam Gamalinda’s putback but the Energy responded with a 9-0 blast capped by RR Garcia’s three-pointer, 90-70, to put the game out of reach.
Lanete added 19 points, while JC Intal chipped in 13 markers for the Energy.
Bryan Faundo was the lone Blackwater player in double figures with 16 points. Rafy Reyes and Brian Heruela each had nine markers for Coach Leo Isaac, who went 0-11 in the Philippine Cup.
Joel Orellana
Image credits: Kevin dela Cruz