Kings take care of business

Kings take care of business

BY NOLI CORTEZ




GINEBRA’S chances of making it outright to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals hinge on how it winds up the eliminations.

That explains why the Kings were focused and all business in scoring a cruising 91-81 victory over Barako Bull last Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to enhance their bid.

"It’s good to win because our destiny is still in our hands and it is up to us to take care of business," Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen said after his charges’ second straight triumph that jacked their record to 5-3.

The victory before a crowd of nearly 14,000 meant the Kings would finish the nine-game eliminations no lower than fourth. But it could get much better.

Another win over Air21 tomorrow will send Ginebra to a playoff for the No. 2 spot against either B-Meg or Talk N Text, depending on the defending champion Tropang Texters’ final match against Petron Blaze also tomorrow.

Should the Kings and Boosters win, the Llamados will take the No. 1 spot and the former will face the Texters for the No. 2 slot and the lone remaining automatic semis seat. Should TNT win, Ginebra and B-Meg square off for the No. 2 position.

Tanquingcen just wants his team to take care of its own end of the bargain.

"We have to make sure that we focus on our next game," he stressed.

A reprise of last Sunday’s game would do just fine for Tanquingcen. Ginebra let loose a big assault starting in the third period that netted the Kings as much as a 68-49 lead. When the protagonists entered the final quarter, the Kings were sitting on a 70-55 spread.

"We set the tempo of game," he said afterwards. "It is crucial for us to play our style of play. The key for us is to keep on playing our style of game. Kung nilabanan namin sila (Energy) sa style nila medyo mahirap."

Repeatedly shredding Barako’s single coverage most were Mark Caguioa and Jackson Vroman. Caguioa scattered 11 of his game-high 25 points in the third period and added eight more in the fourth to help keep the Energy at bay.

Caguioa scored nine of his points during a 13-0 run spanning almost six minutes to start the second half, when Barako went 0-for-5 from the field and committed two turnovers.

Vroman carried the cudgels for Ginebra early on, scoring 13 points in the first half which the Kings barely took 44-41. Vroman went on to compensate for a 3-for-8 free throw shooting by making eight of 17 field attempts and also had a game-high 13 rebounds on top of five assists.

Despite some reported personal problems back home in the US, Rodney White still wound up with 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead Barako, which absorbed its fifth loss in nine games.

The Energy’s bid of making the quarterfinals was also put on hold. They are now left hoping Ginebra wins for them to land fifth. Otherwise, they dispute the No. 6 and last spot in the playoffs with Meralco.

Asked which between B-Meg and TNT it wants to play off with, Tanquingcen merely shook his head. "Wala namang pagpipilian," he explained.

"Any of those teams is really tough," he added. "But just to have that opportunity (of playing off), malaking bagay na iyon."

Tanquingcen didn’t need to reiterate the obvious, which is that his team must keep on doing its part.


Source: Malaya