MANILA - Barangay Ginebra blew a 13-point lead late in the third period but regrouped just in time to escape with a 95-87 win over Purefoods Tender Juicy and grab a share of the lead of the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum.
Ronald Tubid had a critical 5-0 spurt late in the game that pushed the momentum back to the Kings and thwarted the rally of the Giants to join Alaska at the top of the team standings with 2-0 win-loss each.
Jayjay Helterbrand paced Ginebra with 19 points including a three-pointer that sealed the win for the team, 87-78, with 1:35 left in the game. He also added 5 boards and 9 assists.
Willy Wilson chipped in a career-high 16 points while Tubid and Enrico Villanueva contributed 14 and 10 markers respectively for Ginebra.
“Both teams struggled a bit today but we had a streak at the right time, get the spread in the fourth and able to maintain it,” said Kings head coach Jong Uichico.
“Nakalusot na kami ng dalawa but we have two strong teams again,” added Uichico, referring to Smart Gilas and the Aces as the team’s next two assignments.
James Yap led all scorers with 21 points while Peter June Simon added 16 for Purefoods, which dropped to 1-1.
The Kings tried to break game wide open in the third when they erected a 65-52 lead at 2:49 mark of the third quarter. The Giants however unleashed a 9-1 blast to trim the gap to 61-66 entering the final canto.
Purefoods center Kerby Raymundo tied the game with his jumper, 78-all, but Tubid banged in a triple and a difficult lay-up to give Ginebra a 84-78 cushion with 2:26 remaining.
After Simon hit a triple the ensuing play to make it 81-84, Helterbrand answered with his trey to make it 87-81 with less than two minutes remaining.
Bull tames Tigers
Magnum Membrere meanwhile capped his career night with a booming three-pointer that helped Barako Bull squeak past Coca-Cola, 81-73, to end a franchise worst nine-game losing streak..
Membrere’s three-pointer gave the Energy Boosters a 76-70 lead as the Tigers faltered with their attempts the rest of the way to absorb their second straight defeat.
The former Ateneo standout finished with a personal-high 14 points while Jojo Duncil and Richard Alonzo added 11 and 10 markers respectively.
“Lahat ng players gustong magpakita talaga sa team na ito kaya ito na ang pagkakataon nila na ipakita at ma-recognize na magaling silang PBA players,” said Isaac, whose last taste of a victory with the team was on March 22 in the Fiesta Cup when they pulled a 135-133 upset over Talk ‘N Text.
“Kung nasa ibang team sila, hindi nila makukuha ang playing time na ibinibigay ko that’s why I told them to give their best every game daghil ito na ang exposure na hinihintay nila,” he added.
The Tigers were actually in full control of the game early and even led by as much as 12 points, 38-26, on Norman Gonzales’s lay-up with 5:51 left in the second quarter.
But the Barako Bull managed to stay close in the first half and trailed by just four, 41-45, and came out with a different defensive intensity in the second half.
The Energy Boosters trailed only by three, 55-58, going into the final canto and were staring a 62-55 deficit when they unloaded a 15-4 exchange capped by Felix Belano’s triple at the top of the key to grab a 70-66 lead with 4:42 remaining.
Alex Cabagnot knotted the score for the last time at 70-all after scoring the next four points but Ogie Menor and Membrere hit-back-to-back three-pointers that gave Barako Bull a 76-70 cushion with 2:18 remaining.
The Tigers never had a serious run since then to have a 0-2 start and join San Miguel Beer at the cellar.
Dennis Espino led Coke with 15 points while Gonzales and Marvin Cruz finished with 12 and11 points respectively. Larry Rodriguez had 10 points and a career-high 18 rebounds for the Tigers.
Asi Taulava was held down to just two points in the game as he left the game early in the first period due to sprained right ankle.
Source: abs-cbnnews.com
Sunday, October 18, 2009
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