| BARANGAY GINEBRA EXACTS SWEET VENGEANCE ON WELCOAT |
| Helterbrand takes charge as Kings win 2 straight |
| Wednesday, 28 November 2007 | |
| Jayjay Helterbrand took charge in the fourth quarter and Sunday Salvation hit a huge 3-pointer with 1:59 remaining as Barangay Ginebra held off a furious comeback by Welcoat to prevail, 94-87, Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum. The heart-stopping ending brought some relief to coach Jong Uichico after watching the Kings blow a 14-point second quarter bulge. "I don't know how we could blow away a 14-point lead. The way I look at it, we have a tendency to relax when we're comfortably ahead. It’s something that we really have to work on because it's a dangerous habit," Uichico said. "I'm still happy with the win though, but I hope the players won't be satisfied. The games ahead are much tougher." Helterbrand, who took matters into his own hands when Ginebra’s top guns were firing blanks, scattered 20 points aside from dishing off 10 assists. Mark Caguioa, who sizzled for 35 points the last time around, shot a woeful 8-of-23 from the field this time, but still led all scorers with 21 points. Ronald Tubid had 14 markers, and Rafi Reavis and Mark Macapagal combined for 22 points for the Kings, who have won two in a row and improved to a 4-6 record. The win also avenged the defending champions’ embarrassing 64-82 loss to the Dragons on October 27 in "Now we're closing in on the middle of the pack. But we still have to improve in many areas to be able to compete for the championship," Uichico said. Welcoat knocked 10-of-34 3-point attempts, six more than the four converted by the Kings. But the biggest three of the night belonged to Salvacion, who made just four attempts all game and managed only four points. After Rob Wainwright put Welcoat ahead, 86-85, with a 3-pointer, Salvacion answered with his own trey 27 seconds later to give the Kings a one-point lead. Jay-R Reyes had a chance to tie the count after sinking his first free throw but he missed the other. Helterbrand scored on Ginebra's next possession to all but seal the win, 90-87. It was the third straight loss for the Dragons, who fell to 3-7. And there's a strong chance it could cost the Dragons even more. Already without top rookie Joe Devance and guard Froilan Baguion, the Dragons could also lose star center Reyes, who hurt his knee during a looseball scramble in the closing seconds. Wainwright finished with 17 points and Belasco had 16 for the Dragons, who appeared down and out by the time they fell behind by 23-37 early in the second quarter. But they kept their patience and slowly rallied behind the 3-point shooting of Wainwright and Belasco and the timely shots of Reyes, Lopez and Gelig. Jireh Ibanez's three with 9:28 left in the third quarter shoved Welcoat ahead, 56-53. The Dragons managed to stretch their lead to as much as 72-65 at the end of the third canto but Ginebra needed only a couple of Welcoat plays that went awry to step on the gas and get back into the game. (DBC) The scores: Ginebra 94 - Caguioa 21, Helterbrand 20, Tubid 14, Reavis 12, Macapagal 10, Menk 8, Salvacion 5, Artadi 2, Mamaril 2, Aquino 0. Welcoat 87 - Waiwright 17, Belasco 16, Reyes 15, Lopez 11, Gelig 9, Mente 9, Ibanes 5, Sta. Maria 3, Dulay 2, Arana 0, Tangkay 0. Quarters: 20-15, 49-45, 65-72, 94-87. /copied from: http://www.pba.ph/content/view/1886/59/ |
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