New Hatfield Brings Life To Ginebra

by **Ginebra Tambayan** Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:37 am

New Hatfield Brings Life To Ginebra
March 19, 2012, 10:01pm

Rudy Hatfield maybe old hat to many people but after his performance Sunday night, it may be time to again reassess his true worth to Barangay Ginebra.

Playing like a man possessed, Hatfield put on what seemed like a one-man show as he led Ginebra to a thrilling 94-91 overtime win over defending champion Talk ’N Text in the PBA Commissioner's Cup Sunday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

It was vintage Hatfield – known as H-Bomb – who showed up for Ginebra in a performance that earned for himself the Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week honors for the period March 12 to 18.

At 34, who would have thought Hatfield would still be able to pull something out of a magician’s hat. He had left the team last year and many thought he would be out for good.

But he returned and Sunday night he showed he still has plenty of spunk left as he put new life to his career with a new career-high of 30 points. He also had 14 boards and two assists.

More important for coach Siot Tanquingcen, Hatfield's all-around performance was punctuated by a high energy level on both ends of the floor that seemed to rub off on his teammates who were coming from back-to-back losses.

"That's what he brings," said Tanquingcen. "It's really hard to quantify, pero that is basically what he brings. Medyo give and take, kasi shootingwise, me mga ma-mi-miss siya. Pero energy-wise, ang laki ng naibibigay niya."

The man who rejoined the team this conference after leaving it last season due to personal matters made 14 of 21 field goal attempts, the best of the evening.

Hatfield did miss a wide open three-pointer that could have won the game in regulation, but that hardly mattered.

He scattered 13 of his points in the fourth period, including his team's last five points in regulation, and added two in the extension to break his old career-best of 28 set with Tanduay in his 2000 rookie year. The victory over the defending champion is also big for other reasons.

It improved Ginebra's record to 4-3, moving it alongside Powerade for third-running spot and primed the perennial crowd favorites up going into their remaining eliminations assignments against Barako Bull and Air21.

Should the Kings win those, they have a shot at realizing a top two finish and nailing an automatic semifinals berth.

For sure, Hatfield is going to play a major role in Ginebra's quest.

Source: Manila Bulletin