PBA: Helterbrand lifts Ginebra over Petron at the buzzer

by **Ginebra Tambayan** Mon Feb 13, 2012 12:25 am

PBA: Helterbrand lifts Ginebra over Petron at the buzzer
February 12, 2012 8:44pm

(Updated 9:37 p.m.) Jayjay Helterbrand delivered again for the Barangay Ginebra Kings, nailing the game-winning basket as the Kings survived the Petron Blaze Boosters, 84-82, in a wild-and-wooly Philippine Commissioners Cup game Sunday night before a crowd of 12,145 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Helterbrand, the 2009 league MVP, escaped past the defense of Alex Cabagnot, but had to make a tough, double pump shot with 6-foot-11 import Nick Fazekas in front of him, the ball hitting the basket exactly as the final buzzer sounded as pandemonium broke loose inside the rocking Big Dome.

Shortly upon hitting the game-winner, the Ginebra guard ran at the far end of the court as teammates tried to put a chase. He then climbed atop the railings of the ringside section with both arms raised, before acknowledging the cheers and high-fives of celebrating Ginebra fans.

“Yung play was really for Jayjay, but wala sa coach yun. Players make the play,” said Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen.

Helterbrand finished with 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting, and had seven assists. His running jumper off the backboard in the final 49.6 seconds gave the Kings the lead for good, 80-79.

For a while, the game, which Ginebra once led by as much as 22 points, looked headed to overtime as Fazekas, showing off his ability to hit big shots from the outside, dropped a booming three-pointer with 3.9 seconds to tie the count at 82.

But there was no denying the Kings of the win as Helterbrand answered back with his own spectacular shot.

“We’re thankful for Jayjay,” Tanquingcen added.

Returning import Chris Alexander led Ginebra with 21 points, 19 of them in the first half. His basket with 6:45 to go in the second period gave the Kings their biggest lead, 38-16.

Alexander however, lost steam in the second half, at about the same time Fazekas began to wax hot.

The Petron import was in a zone during the third period, hitting one big basket after the other. His long three-pointer just as the quarter was coming to an end moved the Boosters to within 64-62 with a full 12 minutes to play.

The Boosters last tasted the lead at 79-78, on a basket by Rabeh Al-Hussaini with 1:26 left in the game.

After Helterbrand gave the lead back to Ginebra, Willie Wilson grabbed the rebound as Petron missed, was fouled and made the two corresponding free throws to make it a three-point Kings contest.

Fazekas then hit the game-tying three-pointer at the other end to pave the way for the thrilling ending. - AMD, GMA News

The scores

GINEBRA (84) --Alexander 21, Caguioa 17, Helterbrand 11, Raymundo 10, Hatfield 7, W. Wilson 4, Mamaril 4, Labagala 3, Cortez 3, Ababou 2, Canaleta 2.

PETRON (82) -- Fazekas 37, Lutz 13, Santos 8, Cabagnot 8, Miranda 6,
Ildefonso 6, Al-Hussaini 4, Reyes 0, Yeo 0, Tugade 0.

Quarterscores: 27-14, 47-34, 64-62, 84-82

Source: GMANwes.com