Big win for Kings

Big win for Kings

Written by : Zean Macamay



Games Tomorrow: (Cuneta Astrodome)

5:15 p.m. – Powerade vs. Meralco

If Talk ‘N Text wins:

7:30 p.m. – B-Meg vs. Ginebra

If Petron wins:

7:30 p.m. – Talk ‘N Text vs. Ginebra


COACH Siot Tanquingcen knew that it would take a tremendous amount of focus from his players to beat a team with nothing to lose.

Ginebra pursued the game plan, and now the Kings have a chance to make it to the semi-finals outright.

Finally pulling away in the fourth quarter, Ginebra bludgeoned also-ran Air21 last night, 103-87, to secure a playoff game for the second automatic berth in the Final Four of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Kings will either play defending champion Talk ‘N Text or sister-team B-Meg on Friday. If the Tropang Texters win against Petron in a game being played as of press time, Ginebra will battle the Llamados. If not, Talk ‘N Text will drop into the knockout match against the Kings, with B-Meg earning the first outright semis slot due to a superior quotient.

The victory likewise towed Barako Bull into the quarter-finals, leaving Powerade and Meralco to dispute the last playoffs berth in a separate do-or-die game also on Friday.

But while Ginebra might have hurdled an obstacle for it to arrange a duel for a semis slot, its problems aren’t over just yet.

“Wala kaming pagpipilian,” said Tanquingcen. “Bahala na kung kanino matapat. Kahit sino masakit sa ulo namin. Lalaban na lang kami. TNT malakas. We still have to see whether Ali Peek will play. B-Meg ganun din. Malakas firepower nila.” Jackson Vroman led the Kings with 19 points, and Mike Cortez contributed 18. Mark Caguioa added 13 for Ginebra.

Marcus Douthit and RJ Jazul paced the Express with 19 points apiece.

The Kings actually were only ahead by 78-67 entering the final period, but totally wiped out Air21’s hopes for a comeback with a 17-6 blast that gave Ginebra a 95-73 lead with just 6:40 left to play.

Ginebra thus finished the elimination round with a 6-3 (win-loss) record, tying B-Meg.


The scores:

Ginebra (103) - Vroman 19, Cortez 18, Caguioa 13, Ababou 9, Raymundo 9, W. Wilson 8, Villanueva 8, Hatfield 8, Labagala 6, J. Wilson 3, Canaleta 2, Mamaril 0.

Air2121 (87) - Douthit 19, Jazul 19, Omolon 15, Sena 11, Ritualo 10, Hubalde 7, Isip 4, Escobal 2, Sison 0, Espiritu 0, Menor 0, Duncil 0.

Quarterscores: 26-25, 53-42, 78-67, 103-87



Source: Journal.com.ph