KINGS: THIS ONE'S FOR COACH SONNY

In the official rites retiring Robert Jaworski’s Ginebra jersey No. 7, the Gin Kings made a vow
they would live on the legacy and legend of the cage icon.

They didn’t disappoint in the game held right after the ceremony.

Cedric Bozeman scored on a teardrop shot in the closing seconds and the Kings – fighting with
Jaworski’s never-say-die attitude -- beat out the Petron Blaze Boosters, 87-85, in a tight match
to gain solo third place in the PBA Governors Cup semifinal round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum
Sunday night.

“I think that’s the best sendoff gift we could give coach Sonny Jaworski,” said Ginebra coach
Siot Tanquingcen after the game.

“That’s not supposed to be the play. But great players make great plays,” said Tanquingcen of
the winning sequence executed by Bozeman lifting the Kings past the Boosters.

Bozeman shook off the defenses of Chris Lutz and Jay Washington to deliver the winning basket as the
Kings scored a third straight win and enhanced their finals aspiration with a 7-4 win-loss card.

The Boosters suffered yet another sorry loss to the Kings in the season and slid to fourth place at
6-5. They must win all their three remaining games to gain a playoff berth under the “4-of-5
incentive rule.”

Petron dominated the first half but Ginebra got into the game curiously after a brief talk with
Jaworski before start of the final half.

“He told us just keep on fighting, keep on playing hard,” said Tanquingcen.

The Kings did just what they’re told of the Living Legend, pulling off the come-from-behind win to
boost their finals aspiration.

Bozeman struggled for only four points in the first half and had made a total of only 11 before
stealing the thunder with the game-winning shot with .3 second to go.

Having used all their timeouts, the Boosters were no longer able to map out a play to salvage the
game.

Dylan Ababou had his own giant exploit at the finish, grabbing the offensive rebound following two
missed free throws by Rico Maierhofer then getting away with a three-point play to push Ginebra
ahead at 85-83 with 24.3 ticks left.

Alex Cabagnot drove past Willy Wilson to tie the count in the ensuing play. Then came Bozeman’s
heroics.

All four quarters were marked by virtual buzzer-beaters.

Lutz pumped in a three-point with six-tenths of a second left in the first quarter, Marcus Faison
buried a twinner with .2 second left at the half and Dondon Hontiveros also rifled in a trey with .7
second to go in the third period.

“I kept on missing and missing. I couldn’t believe we won it,” said Bozeman after the classic
match.

Bozeman went 0-of-3 from the three-point area, 5-of-10 from the two-point zone and 3-of-4 from the
stripe for 13 markers that went with 11 rebounds and four assists.

Mark Caguioa paced the Kings with 25 points.

“The final play was supposed to be for Mark. But Petron made a defensive switch, putting in their
import on Mark. Nag-adlib na lang ang players namin at pumunta kay Bozeman,” said Tanquingcen.
(SB)

The scores:

GINEBRA 87 - Caguioa 25, Bozeman 13, Ababou 13, Maierhofer 10, Villanueva 8, Raymundo 8, Helterbrand
4, Cortez 3, Hatfield 3, Maliksi 0, Wilson W. 0, Mamaril 0.

PETRON 85 - Faison 19, Lutz 17, Washington 11, Hontiveros 11, Santos 9, Yeo 6, Cabagnot 6, Pena 4,
Miranda 2, Reyes 0, Ildefonso 0.

Quarters: 15-26, 34-42, 58-69, 87-85

Source: PBA.ph