RUMBLE TIME FOR KINGS, TEXTERS

by **Ginebra Tambayan** Thu Apr 25, 2013 5:46 pm

BARANGAY Ginebra San Miguel has slain one Goliath. It starts work on another one Friday.

And the Kings are faced with the welcome problem of who will act out David this time when they tangle with Talk N Text at the start of their PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinal duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Every game may bagong David. Laging may nag-ko-contribute,” quipped Ginebra coach Alfrancis Chua. “Sino kaya ngayon?”

Who among the Kings will be stepping up is the least of their problems.

Talk N Text comes into the game more rested, needing only two games to dispatch Petron Blaze in a quarterfinals series that ended last Sunday.

Ginebra, on the other hand, had to go through the proverbial eye of the needle, needing to overcome a twice-to-win handicap as the seventh-seed before toppling second-ranked Rain or Shine with its 7-3 import Bruno Sundov.

That win by the Kings in the series, capped by a gut-wrenching 81-79 escape last Monday, bolstered Tropang Texters coach Norman Black’s belief their best-of-five series with the crowd favorites will not be an easy one.

“We recognize Ginebra as a dangerous opponent. With their solid play and the crowd support we expect them to be a tough act,” said Black.

Black’s main worries are how to contain Ginebra import Vernon Macklin and ace playmaker LA Tenorio, who have been leading the team in the continued absence of Mark Caguioa, while keeping an eye out for the other Kings like Kerby Raymundo, Chris Ellis, Josh Urbiztondo, Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark Baracael.

“Macklin and LA will be major headaches, but we will not take the others for granted because their support cast has been playing well,” said Black.

Chua acknowledges that fact, particularly Raymundo and Helterbrand. “Mabuti na lang may mga bago akong players, mga batang-bata,” he jokingly said of the two who are in their 30s.

Turning more serious, Chua knows it will take a lot of work on their part. “In the quarterfinals, strong team kalaban. Ngayon, very strong team naman,” he stated.

“Ang kailangan kung paano focus, intensity in the quarterfinals dapat mas i-apply lalo ngayon and we have to sustain our energy.”

The Texters won their last meeting, 100-86, two Sundays ago, when TNT import Jerome Jordan debuted with 23 points and 18 rebounds while holding Macklin to just 12 points and nine rebounds.

“Unang laban against Jordan na-shock lahat, kasi ang laki,” related Chua. “Pero ngayon medyo na-scout na. Tulad nga sa Rain or Shine, gagawan ng paraan.”

Jordan’s recent performances are not boosting his reputation any since they have taken a dip since that first game. In the Petron series, the 7-foot Jamaican averaged only 11 points and five rebounds while being saddled by foul trouble in both games.

“For us major concerns will be our defensive rebounds and keeping Jordan out of foul trouble,” said Black. (NC)

SOURCE: PBAinquirer