KINGS GET BACK AT ACES WITH COME-FROM-BEHIND WIN

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Sun, 05/23/2010 - 00:03

CEBU CITY – In a gambit that paid off, Barangay Ginebra played all-Filipino in the homestretch and stunned Alaska Milk with a lightning attack leading to a sweet revenge.

The Kings, behind a big endgame run, got back at the Aces, 105-93, in their rematch in the 2010 PBA Fiesta Conference elimination round at the Cebu Coliseum here Saturday night.

“We just kept on fighting, fighting and fighting. Things turned around at the right time,” said head coach Jong Uichico as his troops topped the Aces in the Cebu stop of the Phoenix Fuel PBA On Tour.

“We just didn’t give up. Our players played their hearts out and that’s just the way the Ginebra team should play come what may,” added Uichico as they avenged an 81-86 defeat to the Aces in their initial tiff and, thus, gained solo third in the standings with a 7-4 win-loss card.

Baffled at endgame, the Aces slid from joint third down to fifth with a 6-5 card.

Eric Menk, Mark Caguioa, Ronald Tubid, Willie Miller and Willie Wilson worked on a decisive closing run that carried the Kings to a third win in a row – the team’s longest streak in the tourney thus far.

The Fiesta Conference champs two seasons ago, the Kings closed out with a 19-2 attack curiously after coach Uichico decided to take import Mildon Ambres out for good following back-to-back lapses that allowed the Aces to get a five-point lead, 91-86, with 3:43 left to play.

With Ambres on the bench, the Kings employed a stifling defense, holding the Aces scoreless for over three minutes.

When the Aces broke the spell through a layup by LA Tenorio, the game was already beyond reach, 93-102, with time down to 28 seconds..

Tubid banged away a three-pointer, Miller canned two free throws, Wilson made a short stab and Tubid had another triple that sent Barangay Ginebra ahead at 96-91.

And there was no stopping the Kings as they roared on to halt the Aces’ own two-game romp.

Menk pumped in a personal conference-high of 25 points, including a booming trey that sealed their win at 101-91 with 42 ticks left.

Caguioa added 20 while Miller and Jayjay Helterbrand chipped in 12 apiece as the Kings engaged the Aces in a battle despite Ambres’ so-so game.

Simpson showed up Ambres with the former finishing with 24 points against the latter’s 10.

Cyrus Baguio had another sterling game versus his former team but he himself lost his touch at the finish.

It was a sorry loss for the Aces who took control most of the second half, leading by 12 points on back-to-back three-pointers by Larry Fonacier at the start of the payoff period.

Helterbrand and Miller ignited a run that brought the Kings to within one at 86-87 with 4:39 left.

Then Simpson pounced on defensive breakdowns by Ambres, coming through with a four-point binge that gave the Aces their 91-86 margin. (SB)

The scores:

Barangay Ginebra 105 – Menk 25, Caguioa 20, Miller 12, Helterbrand 12, Ambres 10, Tubid 9, Hatfield 8, Villanueva 4, De Ocampo 3, Wilson 2, Cruz 0.

Alaska 93 – Simpson 24, Baguio 17, Dela Cruz 11, Devance 11, Tenorio 9, Thoss 7, Fonacier 6, Borboran 4, Eman 2, Hugnatan 2, Dela Pena 0.

Quarterscores: 25-20, 46-50, 69-75, 105-93