PBA: Vintage H-bomb detonates, helps Ginebra gut out OT win over TNT

PBA: Vintage H-bomb detonates, helps Ginebra gut out OT win over TNT

March 18, 2012 8:45pm

(Updated 9:09pm) Rudy Hatfield, the man they dubbed `H-Bomb’, exploded at the right place, at the right time for Barangay Ginebra.

Scoring a career-high 30 points, Hatfield provided the energy and the hustle in a stirring 94-91 overtime win by the Barangay Ginebra Kings over the defending PBA Commissioner’s Cup champions, the Talk `N Text Tropang Texters, Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

The eccentric veteran power forward kept the Kings going throughout the game’s 53 total minutes, where a crowd of more than 13,000 watch the team known for its never-say-die spirit rally back from a 10-point first half deficit.

Reserve forward Willie Wilson took over late in the extra period, scoring Ginebra’s last five points, including two pressure-packed free throws with 1:13 to go, but it was Hatfield that slammed the door shut on a TNT comeback, grabbing two offensive caroms in the game’s dying seconds to deny the Texters a chance at an equalizer for a second overtime period.

Shortly after grabbing his final rebound for the night, Hatfield bounced off the ball hard on the floor, let out a big howl, before he showed off his bulging biceps and posed like a body builder

“That’s what he (Hatfield) brings to the team. It’s hard to quantify, but energy-wise ang laki ng nabibigay niya,” said Ginebra coach Siot Tanquingcen of Hatfield.

“That was the key for us tonight, parang playoff energy. It’s more than the X’s and the O’s.”

The Kings won despite a horrendous shooting night by their import, Jackson Vroman, from the free throw line. The naturalized Lebanese finished with 24 points, but went a paltry 1-of-12 from the charity line.

“That was a big concern of mine,” said Tanquingcen of his import’s woeful foul throw shooting.

“Sa endgame, ang hirap mag-survive ng mag-miss ng ganung (free throws).”

Ranidel de Ocampo paced the reigning champions with 23 points, including the basket that sent the game into overtime.

Both teams then missed on chances to break the tie, giving the ball back to Talk ‘N Text, but veteran point guard Jimmy Alapag’s ill-timed pass sent possession back to Ginebra.

Hatfield then had a chance to win the game but he missed a baseline jumper that teammate Mike Cortez managed to throw back in, only for his attempt to be ruled by the referees as coming after the buzzer.

It was also De Ocampo who put the Tropang Texters on top for the last time with a three-pointer in overtime, 91-89.

But Wilson promptly answered back at the other end, with a foul to boot from De Ocampo. Wilson then sank the go-ahead charity to put Ginebra in front to stay, 92-91.

It was just the second loss for the Texters, dropping them to 5-2, but it did away with their half-game lead over the B-Meg Llamados, tying the two teams at the top of the standings.

Ginebra on the other hand, kept in step with the Powerade Tigers, winners of the first game of the night, at 4-3, in the third and fourth slots. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

GINEBRA 94 - Hatfield 30, Vroman 24, Cortez 11, Caguioa 10, W. Wilson 6, Helterbrand 5, J. Wilson 2, Ababou 2, Villanueva 2, Raymundo 2, Labagala 0.

TALK N' TEXT 91 - De Ocampo 23, Harvey 15, Castro 12, Fonacier 11, Dillinger 10, Alapag 10, Williams 6, Carey 3, Aguilar 1, Reyes 0.

Quarter scoring: 19-23, 43-45, 69-71, 87-87, 94-91

Source: Gmanetwork.com