KINGS BATTLE FROM 17 DOWN TO TRUMP ACES

KINGS BATTLE FROM 17 DOWN TO TRUMP ACES
Published on June 22, 2012

BARANGAY Ginebra found its rhythm on both ends of the court in the second half and streaked to a come-from-behind 90-81 victory over Alaska Friday in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Mark Caguioa scattered 15 of his game-high 22 points in the last 24 minutes of play while fellow relievers Rico Villanueva, KG Canaleta and Willy Wilson did their own ample part in helping boost the Kings from two early 17-point deficits.

"It was an ugly first half. Bugbog na nga ang ring sa amin, eh," said Barangay Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen, whose charges scored only 10 points in the opening quarter and made just 12 of 38 shots in the first half.

Caguioa totally agreed. "In the first half we couldn't buy a basket. Iba pag-atake namin," said the prized guard who also had five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Once Ginebra's game got going, there was no stopping it from notching a fourth win in seven games that tied it with sister team Petron Blaze at fourth-running spot.

The defending champion Boosters can break out of the tie with a win over Rain or Shine Saturday in Dumaguete City, making it imperative the Kings prevail over Talk ‘N Text on Sunday and Barako Bull next Friday for a spot in the top six and sure entry in the carryover semifinals.

"We're far from safe," said Tanquingcen. "Kailangan pa ng mga panalo, knowing na carryover. Gusto namin makakuha pa ng mga panalo as much as we could."

Eliminated from the race to the semis as early as last week, Alaska went into the game without any pressure and that gnawed at Tanquingcen.

And the Aces did come out playing like the team with nothing to lose that it was, making half of its 40 shots in the first half and leading by 44-27 and 46-29.

Then things started going southward for Alaska while the reverse was true of Ginebra.

Jason Forte had 20 points and 18 rebounds, but only seven points in the second half. Cyrus Baguio, who ran rings around Caguioa for 10 points in the early goings, could only manage a point in the last 24 minutes.

LA Tenorio and Gabby Espinas tried to make up for the slack with 17 of their combined total 24 points but those were not enough and helped spell the Aces' sixth straight loss and seventh in eight games overall, its worst performance in a conference in at least 20 years.

Barangay Ginebra was the exact opposite.

Not used in the first half Villanueva came in and scored a personal conference-best 12 points on the eve of his 32nd birthday, including eight in the third period, with Canaleta following suit with all nine of his points in the second half.

At the same time, the Kings’ defense also clicked into high gear, the most notable Wilson taking the lead in stifling Forte.

In no time at all, Barangay Ginebra caught up at 58, before erecting as much as an 82-68 spread, midway in the fourth quarter. (NC)

The scores:

BARANGAY GINEBRA 90 - Caguioa 22, Bozeman 15, Villanueva 12, Cortez 12, Canaleta 9, Ababou 6, Hatfield 6, Wilson W. 4, Maierhofer 2, Raymundo 2, Maliksi 0, Wilson J. 0, Mamaril 0, Helterbrand 0.

ALASKA 81 - Forte 20, Tenorio 12, Espinas 12, Baguio 11, Thoss 9, Baracael 7, Jazul 6, Eman 2, Gelig 2, Thiele 0, Custodio 0, Sotto 0, Cablay 0, Dela Cruz 0.

Quarterscores: 10-23, 33-46, 65-65, 90-81

Source: PBA.ph