Kings stay alive, win Game 3, 88-79

Kings stay alive, win Game 3, 88-79
Written by : People's Journal

MIKE Cortez collected a triple-double and Nino Calaneta scored 23 points and Ginebra outlasted B-Meg 88-79 last night, cutting the Llamados’ series lead to 2-1 in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals duel at the jampacked Cuneta Astrodome.

Cortez scored 17 points, pulled down 11 rebounds, and flicked 10 assists to become the first local to submit a triple-double in the conference in a sensational all-around game lifting the most popular ball club to the sweep-denying victory.

The victory, however, nearly slipped away when Ginebra relaxed after erecting a 78-65 spread. The Llamados threatened at 78-74, but Cortez hit a jumper and then followed it up with a triple as the Kings pulled away for good, 83-74.

Game Four is set at 6:45 tomorrow at the Araneta Coliseum.

B-Meg played without ace defender Marc Pingris for nearly three quarters. Pingris committed two technical fouls – an automatic ejection. He left the court with still 10:29 to go in the second quarter after being whistled for a flagrant foul one against Canaleta for trying to stop the Ginebra forward from completing a break-away lay-up.


The scores:

Ginebra (88) - Canaleta 23, Cortez 17, Ababou 13, Helterbrand 12, Hatfield 9, Vroman 8, Labagala 3, Raymundo 3, J. Wilson 0, Mamaril 0.

B-Meg (79) - Intal 18, Simon 15, Yap 14, Bowles 11, Urbiztondo 8, Devance 7, Reavis 6, Barroca 0, Burtscher 0, Villanueva 0, De Ocampo 0.

QS: 17-12, 37-37, 61-57, 88-79

Source: Journal.com.ph