RED Bull Barako clinched a semifinal slot in the 4th Shell Invitational basketball tournament in Brunei Thursday by whipping Purefoods, 92-67, at the national indoor stadium in Berakas.
Rico Villanueva and Davonn Harp sparkled with 22 and 19 points, respectively, as the Barakos posted their fourth straight victory.
Red Bull, which is honing up for the forthcoming PBA All-Filipino Conference together with the TJ Hotdogs, blasted the Shanghai Sharks, 88-74, Spring Cooking Oil-Laguna, 91-75, and Brunei national team, 121-104, in its first three outings.
"I’m happy with the way the team is playing,’’ Red Bull Barako teamowner George C. Chua said after team manager Tony Chua had reported the win over Purefoods.
Red Bull rested yesterday but it still has to play Jones Cup champion You Lon Twisters of Taiwan and the Hankook Raiders of South Korea in the elimination round.
The Barako led from the start but the TJ Hotdogs came within seven points in the last six minutes of the final quarter. However, Villanueva uncorked six straight points, including a dunk, to douse water on the Hotdogs’ threat.
Red Bull led 63-58 going into the payoff period after topping the first two quarters, 23-17 and 41-32.
Vergel Meneses and Cyrus Baguio also starred for Red Bull with 12 points each, while Rey Evangelista, Mike Hrabak and Jun Limpot paced Purefoods with 17, 15, 14 points, respectively.
Meneses also pulled down five rebounds and issued four assists.
