Saturday, December 08, 2007 Power trio lift the ‘Barangay’ up
MANILA - Eric Menk, Jay Hilternrand and Mark Caguioa combined for 53 points to lift Barangay Ginebra past Air21, 108-103, last night in the 2007 Smart-PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrdome.
The Gin Kings’ deadly trio refused to buckle down to pressure particularly in the homestretch to sustain the momentum and keep their slim lead until at the buzzer.
“That’s what we need to do. Something that can sustain our lead in the crucial stretch. Just like what happened to us in our game against Alaska. After leading by five, we still lost the game. At least this time, we managed to hang on,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.
The Express have two opportunities to regain their lead but two costly turnovers by Wynne Arboleda and JC Intal in the dying seconds of the match paved way for the Gin Kings’ 5th win in the 12 matches.
Victory
Air21, which won their first meeting in this conference, 102-95, on Nov. 16, is now locked in a three-way logjam from 5th to 7th along with Talk ‘N Text and Sta. Lucia Realty with similar 5-6 slate.
“We are still in the process of making a sustaining game and that was what we have shown right now. We almost blew it away,” added Uichico.
Menk topscored for the Kings with 19 points and three rebounds, while Hilterbrand settled with 18, four rebounds and 8 assists and Caguiao finished with 16 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Air21’s Arwin Santos scored a new career high 32 points on top of 14 rebounds and three steals followed by Nino Canaleta with 23 and 14 points for Ranidel de Ocampo.
Arwin Santos, Nino Canaleta and Dough Kramer combined for 40 points to put the Express on top by just 6 points, 52-46, at the end of the first half.
Aside from the big points, the Express’ triumvirate seeking for a win as advance birthday present to Ranidel de Ocampo, who will be turning 26 tomorrow, likewise provided 17 rebounds for the Express that turned the game in their favor after four deadlocks and 12 lead changes.
The Gin Kings, who lost four of their last six games, came back in the third period on Billy Mamaril and Jay-Jay Hilterbrand’s six straight baskets that tied the match anew, 62-62, only 6:25 remaining.
Scoring
Erik Menk scored from under to break the tie and Hilterbrand connected a jumper to move the Gin Kings ahead by four points, 66-62, still 5:36 left.
Then Jec Chia and Nino Canaleta fired seven points to grab the upperhand for the Express, 69-68, only 3:03 remaining in the third quarter, but that proved to be their last gasp for life as Caguiao retaliated with a jumper to grab upperhand for the Gin Kings.
Barangay Ginebra, which came off from a six-day rest, never relinquished the lead as Mark Caguioa, Ronald Tubid and Paul Artadi threw a quick 14-7 run to stretch the gap to 9 points, 80-71, only 26 seconds left in the third canto. (FCC)
