For Ferrer, his job is done
IN one burst of temper, Glen Rice Jr. blew it all.
In one ugly incident, Glen Rice Jr. threw it all away.
And, in one indiscretion, Glen Rice Jr. tossed out the window all the good things that he’d done for TNT KaTropa.
Isn’t discretion the better part of valor?
Rice had been a source of unlimited power and inspiration for his teammates as he virtually shouldered KaTropa into the semifinals.
But in one mortal moment, Rice let everything go down the drain.
Absorbing virtually all kinds of physicality from some one not known to exactly possess veteran moves, Rice reacted rather illogically and paid the price.
Kevin Ferrer, a virtual rookie at Barangay Ginebra assigned by the guile-rich coach Tim Cone to guard the prolific TNT import, succeeded in getting the goat of Rice.
And it happened at a most opportune time for Ginebra, when the game had been merely onefourth done.
With under two minutes left in the first quarter, Ferrer irked Rice with a body bang during a rebound battle.
Rice retaliated by pushing Ferrer down, quickly earning a flagrant foul.
But even before the referee could complete meting out Rice’s infraction, Rice would fling the ball at the fallen Ferrer.
Ferrer was not hit, but Rice’s second sin merited an ejection outright. Well, what else can I say? With Rice out of the game, it was just a matter of time before Ginebra would proceed to pocket the game en route to a 3-1 triumph in their best-of-five series.
In Rice’s absence, TNT had tried everything to defend the cause. But in a protracted battle as in a skirmish lasting three more quarters, one with superior firepower would surely prevail in the end.
Justin Brownlee parlayed Rice’s banishment into a virtual one-man show, practically reprising his
heroic games last year in powering Ginebra to the championship.
All told, Ginebra easily beat TNT, making the victory a scar to stay in Rice’s career. Lucky for Rice if TNT rehires him next year; what do you think?
Meanwhile, Barangay is on its way to defending its crown, facing Meralco in Game One on Friday in Lucena City.
It is a return bout, with Meralco aching for revenge after losing the crown on Brownlee’s longdistance heave at the buzzer last year.
Ferrer wasn’t around yet when the Gin Kings bested the Bolts in six.
But already, Ferrer had more than contributed to Ginebra’s title-retention bid by bringing Rice to purgatory. Good job, Kevin. THAT’S IT A keen-eyed coach named Dayong said it all: “It is a cardinal rule that an in-bounding player should never pass the ball towards the direction of the opponent’s court.” That’s what La Salle did on Sunday, when an inbound pass intended for Andrei Caracut faltered near midcourt, leading to an interception that keyed a foul-baiting drive by Ateneo hero Matt Nieto. Nieto sank both free throws for Ateneo’s heartstopping 76-75 win, sealing a 7-0 elimination sweep of the UAAP basketball tournament.