NEVER SAY DIE

by **Ginebra Tambayan** Sun Apr 21, 2013 12:47 am

The Barangay Ginebra Kings are not ready to go idle yet.

The Kings won’t fade away just yet, coming through with a great fourth-quarter effort to turn back the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 90-83, and force a knockout game in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals match-up Saturday night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Still minus Mark Caguioa and Billy Mamaril, Ginebra squeezed out an incredible win, living to fight another game on Monday over at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Before the game, I told (the guys) twice-to-beat and best-of-three is the same. We need to beat them twice. I told them to be ready. Now, we’ve got one more game,” said Ginebra coach Alfrancis Chua.

After the game, Chua gathered his team at midcourt, reminding them their task is not over, and the Kings responded with a roaring approval.

Vernon Macklin gutted it out to be able to match up with Bruno Sundov and LA Tenorio, Kerby Raymundo, Jayjay Helterbrand and new recruit Josh Urbiztondo provided big help as the Kings preserved their hopes in the post-elim plays.

Tenorio, Raymundo and Helterbrand supplied the firepower as Ginebra fought back from a 15-point deficit in the third quarter and weathered Rain or Shine’s own fightback at the finish.

Helterbrand scored all of his personal conference-best of 13 points in the fourth quarter and Urbiztondo contributed crucial hustle plays as the Kings turned the game around in the fourth period, racing ahead at 83-71.

Ginebra put the finishing touch in its rousing win with Helterbrand, Urbiztondo and Tenorio on the floor together.

“In his first day of practice (with us), he already knew the pace. The chemistry and camaraderie were there,” said Helterbrand of Urbiztondo, a key trade acquisition from Barako Bull.

Sundov powered his way to 19 points in the first half but was effectively handled by the Kings in the second half. The 7-foot-2 behemoth was limited to four inconsequential points in the payoff period.

The big guy was virtually unstoppable in the first half, giving the E-Painters a 48-37 spread at the turn.

The Kings faded away from a 23-all count, and heartbreakers were missed layups by Rob Labagala and Macklin.

As Macklin muffed a finger-roll that should have been an easy slam, Rain or Shine ran a transition offense that was finished on a layup by Jeff Chan as the E-Painters took a double-digit lead at 45-35.

Chris Ellis broke the Ginebra silence as he grabbed a loose ball and went hard to the basket for a thunderous slam, cutting their deficit to nine at 37-46.

The Kings came closer in the third before stepping the gas in the fourth canto to steal the game. (SB)