i TV Pinoy

Source: philstar.com

-- Ronald Tubid unraveled another sterling showing and Johnny Abarrientos once again played quality minutes as Barangay Ginebra smashed Barako Bull, 88-76, to stay solo third in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

Tubid poured in 30 points in a follow-up to his 33-point game the last time out while Abarrientos contributed six points, six assists, three rebounds and one steal, leading the Kings to a second straight win and seventh overall in 10 outings.

“Imagine, he was out for one to two years but he’s back, reliable as ever,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico of the 39-year-old Abarrientos.

“He might not be able to take the grind of everyday games. He might have lost a step or two but he still has the court smarts and the game sense because he’s a very experienced player,” Uichico added.

The Ginebra mentor also lauded Tubid, who has emerged as the team’s go-to-guy with Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa sidelined by injuries.

“We always want to have a player like him. He plays hard each game with or without injury,” said Uichico.

Tubid, enduring a dislocated finger, became the first player to have back-to-back 30-point games since San Miguel’s Dondon Hontiveros achieved the feat in Games One and Two of their quarterfinal showdown with the Kings last year.

Tubid went on a romp with Abarrientos feeding him.

And Abarrientos had his own show.

At one point, Abarrientos, once the quickest in the league during his prime, sent Felix Belano tripping backwards with a killer crossover and capped it with a fade away jumper that swished through the net.

In another highlight play, Abarrientos threw a no-look pass to a streaking JC Intal, who responded with a monster two-handed slam that sent the crowd up on its feet.

Leo Najorda paced the Energy Boosters with 14 points with Chad Alonzo, Yousif Aljamal and Magnum Membrere the other Barako Bull players scoring in double figures.

“Johnny is really something,” said Uichico.

In the nightcap, San Miguel walloped Sta. Lucia, 110-94, to extend its amazing run to eight while improving its mark to 9-2 to close in on leader Alaska Milk (9-1).

The Realtors fell to their fifth setback against the same number of wins.