Monday, June 04, 2007 Kings deflate Air21, 121-116, for 12th win
THE Barangay Ginebra Kings kept their chances of bagging an outright semifinals berth alive after ending the elimination round campaign with a 121-116 victory over the Air21 Express yesterday in the 2007 Talk ’N Text PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Kings improved their record to 12-6 and tied Alaska Aces at second spot and if San Miguel won over Talk N’ Text in the main game late yesterday, the Kings and the Aces will meet for a playoff in order to determine the other automatic semifinalist next to the Red Bull Barakos.
The loss for the Express, on the other hand, meant Air21 will now have to wait things out and pray San Miguel loses to the Phone Pals to avoid complications in the quarterfinals march.
The Kings bucked a huge rally from the Express in the final canto as Ginebra kept Air21 at bay after the latter erased the Kings’ 22-point edge and slashed it down to just three, 114-117, with 24 seconds left.
Ginebra, though, stretched their edge back to five points in the next play after split charities from Ronald Tubid and Johnny Abarrientos to give their team breathing space.
Express import Shawn Daniels scored a quick two in the next play to keep his team afloat but Abarrientos and Tubid again both made split charities in the ensuing plays to secure Ginebra’s victory.
Tubid dished off an excellent scoring night for the Kings as he tied his career-high 31 points while grabbing 12 caroms to be adjudged the Best Player of the Game. (JSV)
