MANILA, Philippines?Winning the season opener over the tournament?s defending champion meant little more than a morale booster for Barangay Ginebra.
?We?re not looking [beyond the win],? Ginebra coach Jong Uichico said Wednesday night, moments after the decimated Gin Kings completed a come-from-behind 89-86 victory over defending KFC Philippine Cup champion Sta. Lucia Realty at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
?It?s important to win the first game because it gives your confidence and morale a boost,? added the multi-titled mentor, whose team won the Fiesta Cup at the expense of Air21 two months ago.
Jay-Jay Helterbrand knocked in 21 of his 26 markers in the final two quarters, and Paul Artadi was adjudged the Player of the Game after scattering a career-high 18 points to go with three assists and two steals as both guards led the Kings, who were without a lot of key players.
Ginebra played without big men Rafi Reavis and Billy Mamaril and top-tier guards Junthy Valenzuela and Mark Caguioa, who are all out because of various injuries.
The Realtors opened up with a 10-0 lead but couldn?t keep up with the Kings in the stretch.
Ryan Reyes had 17 points and Kelly Williams highlighted a 16-point night with four electrifying dunks for the Realtors.
In the first game, with James Yap hobbled by an old injury, Purefoods turned to Kerby Raymundo in the fourth quarter last night to scuttle a stubborn Red Bull crew, 77-73.
?The only thing predictable about Red Bull is its unpredictability; Red Bull is always tough to beat,? said Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio. ?They may have lost a lot of players, but as long as (Red Bull) coach Yeng (Guiao) is there, Red Bull will always contend.?
The Tender Juicy Giants trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half then played brilliantly when it mattered most as Raymundo outscored the entire Barako squad in the payoff frame.
?I think we also took it easy in the first half and almost paid the price for it,? said Gregorio. ?The positive (thing) about this win is that James (Yap) had an off-night and we still found a way to win.?
The 6-foot-6 Raymundo scored 11 of his game-high 23 points in the fourth period to make up for the inability of the Giants? other go-to-guy, Yap, to deliver at the crunch.
Raymundo also finished with 15 rebounds and three blocks to lead the Giants, who also got 18 points from Peter June Simon off the bench. Simon also helped rally Purefoods by shooting 13 in the third.
Bothered by a recurring right ankle sprain, Yap finished with just eight points on 2-of-17 shooting from the field. He missed all his seven attempts from the three-point area as the Giants trailed most of the way and looked ready to fall.
Red Bull, with national coach Yeng Guiao calling the shots, led 43-28 at the break, and was ahead 67-60 with 9:35 left in the fourth quarter before two long scoreless spells doomed the unpredictable Barako.
Purefoods first blanked Red Bull for nearly four minutes to creep within 64-67, before holding the Barako hitless again in a five-minute span for a 75-69 lead heading into the final 1:34.
The scores:
First Game
PUREFOODS 77?Raymundo 23, Simon 18, Villanueva 15, Yap R. 9, Yap J. 8, Bugia 2, Robinson 2, Belga 0, Alonzo 0, Lanete 0, Aban 0, Salvador 0.
RED BULL 73?Espinas 18, Baguio 10, Duncil 9, Najorda 9, Cruz 7, Rodriguez 6, Chan 5, Hubalde 5, Alvarez 4, Ybańez 0, Hrabak 0.
Quarters: 18-28, 28-43, 58-63, 77-73
Second Game
BARANGAY GINEBRA 89?Helterbrand 26, Artadi 18, Salvacion 14, Cabatu 8, Pacana 6, Holper 6, Menk 4, Tubid 3, Wilson 2, Crisano 2, Aquino 0, Escalona 0.
STA. LUCIA 86?Reyes 17, Williams 16, Espino 16, Omolon 8, Coronel 6, Gonzales 6, Mendoza 5, Miranda 4, Yeo 3, Aquino 3, Daa 2, Gregorio 0.
Quarters: 21-25, 35-45, 65-66, 89-86
