Never-say-die Ginebra lives to fight another day
Facing elimination, Barangay Ginebra once again called on its patented “never say die” attitude. And veterans Jayjay Helterbrand, Kerby Raymundo and Rudy Hatfield made sure the Gin Kings won't go down without a big fight.
With the three old reliables turning back the hands of time, Ginebra wiped out a 15-point lead then unleashed its full might in the fourth canto, leading to a pulsating 90-83 victory over Rain or Shine Saturday night to force a rubber match in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals series at the MOA Arena.
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With an average age of 34, the three elder statesmen in the Gin Kings camp emerged as the unlikely supporting cast for import Vernon Macklin and ace playmaker LA Tenorio, leading a fiery charge in the third canto then finishing the job with aplomb in a scorching 32-point explosion in the pivotal canto.
The 5-foot-11 Helterbrand, a former league MVP and the eldest among the three at 36, sizzled in the fourth with 13 points, spiked by three booming triples, while Raymundo and Hatfield conspired in the Gin Kings’ big turnaround in the final 19 minutes, finishing with a combined 21 points and nine rebounds.
Their remarkable exploits, coupled with the combined 40-point, 14-rebound, six-assist output of Macklin and Tenorio, enabled the seventh-ranked Ginebra to force a “do-or-die” game against the second seed Rain or Shine on Monday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Towering reinforcement Bruno Sundov proved unstoppable in the first three quarters with 25 big points, mostly in the lane, but could only add another four in the fourth as the Elasto Painters completely crumbled in the face of the Gin Kings’ resilient fightback.
MVP: With close buddy and top gunner Mark Caguioa cheering from the bench, Helterbrand readily put on a vintage performance.
The former Kentucky State University standout, adjudged as the league MVP in the 2008-2009 season, suddenly went on a mad tear in the fourth and drained a dagger of a triple for a big 86-79 cushion, virtually knocking the wind out of the Painters’ sails.
X-Factors: Before Helterbrand took the cudgels, it was the likes of the 6-foot-6 Raymundo and the 6-foot-3 Hatfield who provided the early big blows for Ginebra bridging the third and fourth cantos.
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The former Letran ace accounted for 11 points in the team’s decisive 23-2 run while the do-it-all Fil-Am forward translated several hand-offs into easy buckets amid the Gin Kings’ strong finishing kick.
Game Turning Point: Just when Rain or Shine seemed to be in full control with a 60-45 edge midway in the third, Ginebra suddenly showed some signs of life behind Raymundo and immediately dropped that blinding 23-2 onslaught.
Then Helterbrand played a like man possessed, uncorking a big trey that put Ginebra comfortable ahead 83-71 before sealing the deal with another triple for a seven-point cushion with 1:13 to go.
Quotable Quotes:
“We pulled off a miraculous comeback. Coach (Alfrancis Chua) told us that we should play like there’s no tomorrow,” said Helterbrand.
“We got one more game. I told them twice-to-beat and best-of-three is the same thing because we need to beat them twice. I told them be ready. Jayjay and Kerby stepped up,” stated Chua.
GINEBRA (90) – Macklin 21, Tenorio 19, Raymundo 14, Helterbrand 13, Baracael 7, Hatfield 7, Ellis 5, Urbiztondo 4, Taha 0, Labagala 0, Mamaril 0.
RAIN OR SHINE (83) – Sundov 29, Chan 15, Cruz 12, Arana 8, Lee 6, Norwood 5, Quinahan 4, Ibanes 4, Tiu 0, Matias 0, Belga 0, Rodriguez 0.
Quarterscores: 23-29, 37-48, 58-62, 90-83
