Gabby Espinas sparkled to help Red Bull topple favorite and his former team San Miguel Beer 114-113 in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Arturo S. Lugod gym at Gingoog City. Espinas, the former NCAA Rookie-MVP awardee who was selected fifth overall by the Beermen in the 2006 PBA Draft, poured in 16 points and came through with two crucial plays down the stretch as the Barakos stunned SMB, after breaking into the win-column with a 100-94 decision over the Barangay Ginebra Kings at the Araneta Coliseum Sunday. Red Bull, which swept San Miguel Beer in a best-of-three quarterfinal in last season's tourney, also drew solid games from Cyrus Baguio, Celino Cruz and Leo Najorda as they scored back-to-back victories following a 0-3 start in the all-Filipino tourney. The Barakos caught up with the Air21 Express at seventh place while relegating the Beermen (4-2) back to second place behind the Alaska Milk Aces (4-1). Najorda scored 10 of his 14 points in the last quarter while Cruz, Baguio and Espinas combined for four lethal charities in the last 20 seconds. Up against his former team which traded him to Air21 last season before being acquired by Red Bull a few months ago, Espinas stood tall at crunch time, getting a big steal, nailing a free throw and grabbing a defensive rebound, all inside the last 20 seconds. The whole Red Bull team put up a surprise performance together dominating the highly-fancied Beermen in the last three quarters of play. San Miguel Beer, which has now lost its last five outings in the Philippine Cup against Red Bull, actually pulled abreast at 110-all on an eight-to-nothing run but the Barakos stayed unfazed and leaned on crucial free throws by Cruz, Baguio and Espinas to preserve the win. A defensive stop by Espinas on Jay Washington set up Baguio for his two free throws, giving Red Bull a 113-110 lead with time down to 14.1 seconds. San Miguel eventually yielded the game as Lordy Tugade misfired a three-point try from the right flank then Espinas grabbed the defensive rebound. After Espinas split his charities off a quick San Miguel foul, Dondon Hontiveros banged in a three-pointer for the final tally. The Beermen took the initiative at the start but the Barakos hit their strides in the second quarter, rallying from a 23-33 deficit to seize a 61-58 lead at the half. The Barakos stretched the margin to 90-82 at the end of the third and showed tremendous poise in fending off the Beermen's chase at endgame. Baguio totaled 17 points as he led six Red Bull players who scored in double figures. Hontiveros paced the Beermen with 19. The scores: Red Bull 114 - Baguio 17, Espinas 16, Cruz 15, Sharma 14, Najorda 14, Rodriguez 11, Hubalde 10, Hrabak 6, Chan 6, Alvarez 3, Duncil 2. San Miguel 113 - Hontiveros 21, Washington 16, Tugade 15, Custodio 15, Villanueva 13, Pena 12, Racela 10, Bono 6, Gonzales 4, Calaguio 1. Quarters: 23-33, 61-58, 90-82, 114-113. __
