Kings dump Barako in 0-2 hole
By Musong R. Castillo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:07:00 07/24/2008
MANILA, Philippines—Right now, more than anything—or anyone else—Jong Uichico’s main concern is to how to keep Barangay Ginebra’s murderous focus intact.
Playing with mean form and with just about everyone responding, the Gin Kings scored a clinical 111-104 rout of Red Bull Wednesday night for a 2-0 lead in their Smart PBA Fiesta Cup semifinal series at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
And rather than bask in the glory of the win, Uichico offered guarded words and tried so hard to convince everyone that this series is not over yet—not by a long shot.
“Until the clock reads zero-zero and until we win four games, you cannot say that this is over,” Uichico declared after moving within two more wins of his second Finals stint with this franchise.
“What I’m saying is that the possibility (of a Red Bull comeback) is always there and we don’t want that to happen,” Uichico added. “Ang kalaban namin (Our real opponent) is ourselves. That they will give in because they’re 0-2 down is not in Yeng’s character.
“”We have had our battles in the past and I just know that that (giving up) is not the character that he (Guiao) instills in his team.”
After getting saddled with two fouls early in the first period, Jay-Jay Helterbrand returned with all guns blazing in the third quarter to shoot 19 of his total and key the Ginebra breakaway.
He finished with 27 points and nine assists.
The Kings, who won the Philippine Cup last year after coming back from a 0-2 hole to get past San Miguel in the Finals, posted leads of as many as 13 points in that period and played with complete control the rest of the way.
Mark Caguioa scattered 24 and Chris Alexander totally outplayed Adam Parada with 20 points, 18 rebounds and two blocks to complete a three-pronged attack.
History also speaks kindly of Ginebra’s lead, with only five of the last 30 teams to ever fall into a 0-2 hole ever coming out to reverse the outcome.
And Uichico’s guarded words probably stemmed from the fact that he knows how to get such a feat done, having recorded the latest of those comebacks by steering the Kings past his former squad in last year’s Philippine Cup.
Unlike in its 108-82 Game 1 loss, Red Bull was easily the more aggressive team, leading several times in the first two periods before lagging behind by just six at the end of the half.
Cyrus Baguio kept the Barako in the game by shooting 16 of his career-high 34 points in the third period. But Ginebra maintained control just the same with 39 points in the period.
Parada, though close to 100 percent Wednesday night, labored hard against Alexander and shot just 16 points on top of 10 rebounds in the highly-physical contest.
The win was the 10th straight for the Kings dating back to the eliminations, where they started a mighty rally to earn the No. 3 seeding and the quarterfinals outright.
Magnolia was shooting for a similar 2-0 lead against Air21 and the returning Steven Thomas at presstime.
The scores:
BARANGAY GINEBRA 111—Helterbrand 27, Caguioa 24, Alexander 20, Artadi 9, Reavis 8, Mamaril 7, Valenzuela 6, Salvacion 5, Menk 3, Pacana 2, Crisano 0.
RED BULL 104—Baguio 34, Juntilla 16, Parada 16, Najorda 16, Cruz 7, Hrabak 7, Duncil 5, Adriano 3, Alvarez 0, Pennisi 0.
Quarters: 25-24, 55-49, 94-83, 111-104
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