Ginebra pounces on Air 21, stretches win streak to five

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel pounced on the struggles of foul-plagued Michael Dunigan as the Kings extended their winning streak to five games with a 90-84 win over the Air 21 Express at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday to bolster their playoff bid in the PBA Comissioner’s Cup.

Still missing the services of top gun Mark Caguioa, the Kings’ locals provided plenty of help for import Vernon Macklin as LA Tenorio, Elmer Espiritu and Chris Ellis all rose to the occasion.

Espiritu scored all 10 of his points in the second half, including a crucial three-pointer at the 2:40 mark of the final quarter that pushed the Gin Kings’ lead to five, 84-79.

Another unheralded player, Rob Labagala, also came through with an important basket while a tip-in from Macklin in the last 28 seconds brought down the curtains on the hard-fighting Express, who were forced to play all-Filipino for long stretches as Dunigan was plagued by foul trouble thorughout the contest.

Dunigan fouled out of the game with still 4:15 left in the game.

“I told them huwag niyo na hanapin yung mga wala dito,” said Ginebra coach Alfrancis Chua. “Yung mga hugot like Espiritu and Labagala pati yung iba naming mga players, lahat nag-contribute.”

The Kings won despite missing the services of Caguioa, Kerby Raymundo and Rico Maierhofer.

Macklin led Ginebra with 32 points and 11 rebounds. Tenorio had a double-double performance of 18 points and 11 rebounds while also dishing out six assists.

The Kings bucked a productive performance from Air 21′s KG Canaleta, who finished with 29 points built around five three-pointers.

Dunigan had only 16 points and eight rebounds in what was easily one of his worst games in the tournament.

The scores:

GINEBRA (90) – Macklin 32, Tenorio 18, Ellis 10, Espiritu 10, Helterbrand 6, Labagala 4, Mamaril 4, Baracael 3, Wilson 2, Taha 1, Hatfield 0.

AIR 21 (84) – Canaleta 29, Dunigan 16, Cortez 12, Sena 8, Baclao 8, Custodio 6, Arboleda 3, Menor 2, Atkins 0, Wilson 0, Isip0, Omolon 0, Ritualo 0.

Quarters: 28-17, 46-41, 70-61, 90-84.

SOURCE: Interaksyon

congrats BGSM!

galing galing yeeepeee

pano pa kaya kung naglaro si idol mc47 ....... malamang tambak ang air21 .....

congratz ginebra!!! NSD!!

Sana tuloy tuloy na to hanggang finals at shempre ang kampeonato

MR. FAST wrote:Sana tuloy tuloy na to hanggang finals at shempre ang kampeonato

Sana talaga mod Fasty ito na ang matagal na nating hinihintay... LAst champion natin Friendster pa siya napost sana ngayon maipost naman sa twitter at FB/.. Lol/.. pero namimiss ko na talaga magchampion sila.. lalo na ang speech ni Hatfield..

^#DKT sa friendster admin ge! sana naman talaga eto na para matapos na ang mga "K" ng mga beki

oo nga Mod Fasty.. naala ko kasi bigla nasa comment box ko pa yung last championship nun ng Ginebra sa Friendster... ang kulit lang.. haha

Wag sana magbago intensity nila. Ang ganda na nila panoorin now. Sakto din yung mga bunot ni coach.. Tuloy lang ang mahigpit na depensa, magandang depensa, tsaka pusong Ginebra tuwing may laban.

More improvement sa FT shooting ng buong team not only for vmack.. Di lang masyado nakikita yung FT% ng team kc nananalo.