PBA: Rookie Chan leads Red Bull’s slaying of leader Alaska

MANILA, Philippines – Rookie Jeff Chan showed some bright prospects for the Red Bull franchise’s future in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Chan scored 13 of his game-high 23 points to lead the Barakos to a 100-80 slaying of the league-leading Alaska Aces in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. Chan went 7-of-15 from the field including 5-of-10 beyond the arc to help the team that had lost all of its games last month to snap out of a long eight-game dry spell. Red Bull’s last win was a 104-102 triumph against Talk ‘N Text on October 29. Chan also went perfect, 4-of-4, at the free throw line, grabbed six rebounds, issued three assists and had two steals in 32 minutes of action on the floor. Despite the win, only the fourth for the Barakos, Red Bull remains at the cellar with a 4-11 card. The victory, however, could serve as a morale booster for a team that most of the time opens with a huge lead only to wither in the latter stages of the match. Chan and the Barakos started out slow but found their rhythm in the second half to bury the Aces that gave Alaska its 10-5 mark. The Tim Cone-coached Aces remain at the top of the standings despite the loss. Cyrus Baguio added 13 points while big men Michael Holper and Carlo Sharma combined for 24 markers and 17 rebounds with eight coming at the offensive end. Guards Willie Miller and LA Tenorio paced the Aces with 13 and 12 points each while Sonny Thoss, Joe De Vance and Jeffrey Cariaso added 11, 10 and 10. Miller and Tenorio also combined for 11 rebounds and five assists. Red Bull opened the season with a 0-3 start but snapped its skid with a 100-94 win over Ginebra on October 19 then followed that up with a 114-13 edging of San Miguel Beer on October 25 in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental and a 104-102 triumph against the Tropang Texters on October 29 that brought their record to .500. That was the Barakos’ last win as they dropped all of their assignments in November, most of it close contests where they led early in the match but slowly fade in the final stages of the game. – GMANews.TV