Ginebra drubs TNT, sets finals date with Alaska
Barangay Ginebra’s stirring run is far from over.
Working behind gutsy playmaker LA Tenorio in the stretch, the Gin Kings turned back hard-fighting Talk ‘N Text 111-103 in their do-or-die Game 5 semifinal battle Sunday night to earn a return trip to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals in front off another electrifying Smart-Araneta Coliseum crowd.
The spitfirish Tenorio led the Kings with 28 big points, with import Vernon Macklin backing him up with 22 as Ginebra, up by 20 at the break, survived a furious second-half charge by Talk ‘N Text that saw the Texters creep to within six points twice.
After opening the mid-season tourney with four straight losses, the Kings have found their groove and sustained their amazing run behind their “never-say-die” attitude, enough to survive its fourth do-or-die game and forge a titanic clash with top-seeded Alaska, which dethroned San Mig Coffee last Saturday.
Ranked seventh in the playoffs, the Gin Kings overhauled a twice-to-beat disadvantage against second-seed Rain or Shine in the quarterfinals then erased the Texters’ 2-1 lead in their series, gaining a fitting follow-up to their thrilling 104-101 victory in Game 4 last Friday.
The Kings and the Aces open their championship series on Wednesday, also at the Big Dome.
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Playing taller than his 5-foot-8 frame, Tenorio bucked a hurting right elbow and emerged as the steadying presence for the Gin Kings in the payoff canto, scattering 12 of his team-high 28 points including four daring lay-ups.
Also coming up big for the Gin Kings was Macklin, who dodged a near ejection off a hacking foul on Talk ‘N Text’s Aaron Aban in the third canto and finished with 22 points, exploiting his 6-foot-10 height against his smaller Texters defenders.
Mac Baracael (21 points), Jayjay Helterbrand (15) and veteran Kerby Raymundo (13) also took turns in delivering clutch baskets to help Ginebra weathered repeated TNT’s storm.
Undermanned and all, the Tropang Texters leaned on the hot hands of superb import Tony Mitchell, who exploded anew with 42 points, and Jayson Castro in the big third-quarter fightback, keeping the Gin Kings’ within their sights but eventually faded in the crunch.
The Main Man: Feeding from the energy of a relatively pro-Ginebra crowd of 21,480, Tenorio visibly basked in the limelight.
Once again brandishing his killer instincts, the former Ateneo standout took charge just when the Gin Kings seemed on the verge of a monumental collapse in the fourth.
Utilizing his quickness to the hilt, Tenorio repeatedly blew past his rivals and soared for a handful of lay-ups while teaming up with Helterbrand in restoring order in the critical juncture.
Honorable Mention: Like Raymundo and Rudy Hatfield, Helterbrand just keeps on turning back the hands of Father Time.
With Tenorio also hounded by foul woes, the one-time league MVP knocked down three clutch jumpers in the fourth, capped by a timely pull-up at the 3:57 mark that doused cold water anew on Talk ‘N Text’s last-ditch hurrah.
Game Turning Point: After a strong first-half showing that saw them take a big 20-point lead at the break, the Gin Kings failed to stop the Castro-led TNT charge in the third and even saw their lead trim down to just 81-87 off a Mitchell lay-up early in the fourth.
Then Tenorio and Helterbrand conspired in a decisive 15-8 push that visibly put the game out of the Texters’ reach, making it a 102-89 count with 1:33 left.
Talk ‘N Text tried hard to still make up for lost ground behind its three-point shooting but the Gin Kings showed steely nerves in the charity stripe, making seven of their last eight attempts.
Putting the exclamation point on the win was the surprise insertion of top gunner Mark Caguioa late in the game, who sank two free throws and hoisted the leather in delight as time expired.
Quotable Quotes:
“Going to this game, na-absorb ko na ‘yung never-say-die attitude. Isa lang goal namin: To return to the finals,” said Tenorio.
“I did not expect that we're gonna be in the championship. A lot of blessing. I give it to TNT. They played hard kahit kulang kulang sila. God given gift na binigay sa amin ito. Kanina nakatingin si Mark Caguioa parang gusto niya pumasok. We owe it to the fans by putting Mark in. Sobrang saya sila naka-shoot pa. Mark is very professional ‘Coach I wanna play so bad but I don't want to ruin the rhythm.’ Sacrifices namin grabe. Up to the end, TNT’s fighting,” said Ginebra coach Alfrancis Chua.
GINEBRA (111) - Tenorio 28, Macklin 22, Baracael 21, Helterbrand 15, Raymundo 13, Hatfield 6, Urbiztondo 3, Caguioa 2, Ellis 1, Mamaril 0.
TALK ‘N TEXT (103) - Mitchell 42, Castro 15, Peek 11, Reyes 10, Ferriols 9, Aban 8, Fonacier 3, Al-Hussaini 2, Carey 2, Raymundo 1, Gamalinda 0, Alvarez 0, Alapag 0.
Quarterscores: 27-18, 61-41, 78-69, 111-103
SLIDESHOW OF THE GAME:
