Kings halt Hotshots, force ‘7’
Game today (MOA Arena) 7 p.m. – San Miguel vs TNT KaTropa
The PBA Philippine Cup Final Four goes down to a classic double Game Seven finish.
Barangay Ginebra showed the stuff which kings are made of as it hacked out a stunning 91-67 rout of Star to set up a rubber match in their side of the PBA Philippine Cup best-ofseven semifinals before a roaring crowd of over 18,000 last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Kings, the reigning Governors Cup champs, hit their stride in the second half and marched relentlessly to a 24-point triumph to catch up with the Hotshots at 3-3 and stay in the hunt for back-to-back championships.
Ginebra and Star engage in their winner-take-all match at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the MOA Arena.
Reigning back- to- back Philippine Cup titlist San Miguel Beer and TNT Ka-Tropa figure in their own sudden death at 7 p.m. tonight in the same venue.
“I’m real pleased with our guys on how they showed great resiliency and resolve not just tonight but the whole conference coming from our championship,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone. “Many times, we could’ve quit and say no
mas, but they’ve always found a way to battle,” Cone also said.
The Kings take a shot at the best-of-seven title series, having survived a third KO game in the all-Filipino tourney. They earlier overcame Alaska’s twice-to-beat advantage in their quarterfinals matchup.
Sol Mercado, LA Tenorio, Joe Devance, Japeth Aguilar and Jervy Cruz made things happen in their Game Six triumph. Mercado led all scorers with 21 points, Tenorio added 19, Devance chipped in 14 while Aguilar and Cruz contributed 11 apiece.
Devance starred in their 24-15 blasting of Star in the third period then Mercado and Cruz took over as they ripped the Hotshots apart, 29-13, in the payoff quarter.
The whole Ginebra team showed tremendous energy in its key runs and eventual breakaway from 38- 39 down at halftime.
“It’s like we’re ping-ponging the energy level. Star started the series with a great energy. We picked up our energy in the next couple games, then Game Five was a disaster for us. Tonight, they were a step slow,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.
NOTES: TNT main man Jason Castro will be out of their do-or-die setto with San Miguel and probably the rest of the tourney even if they make the finals due to a hamstring strain suffered in their last game. The Texters have to fend for themselves minus their top gun as they battle the Beermen in a KO game in their side of the Final Four. The scores: GINEBRA 91 – Mercado 21, Tenorio 19, Devance 14, Aguilar 11, Cruz 11, Ferrer 6, Taha 3, Jamito 2, Thompson 2, Helterbrand 1, Ellis 1, Caguioa 0, Mariano 0, Marcelo 0.
STAR 67 – Pingris 14, Barroca 13, Maliksi 9, Lee 8, Ramos 6, Melton 4, Jalalon 4, Reavis 4, Sangalang 3, Brondial 2, Abundo 0, Dela Rosa 0, Simon 0.
Quarterscores: 25-22, 38-39, 62-54, 91-67