Gin Kings gain finals

GAME WEDNESDAY

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

7:30 p.m.—Alaska vs Barangay Ginebra

GINEBRA’S Rudy Hatfield makes a clean block off Talk ‘N Text’s Tony Mitchell in last night’s PBA semifinal match still ongoing at press time. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Barangay Ginebra didn’t need its trademark comeback on this one.

The Gin Kings posted a wire-to-wire 111-103 triumph over walking wounded Talk ‘N Text last night to book the second title series slot in the Cebuana Lhuillier-PBA Commissioner’s Cup before another overflow crowd at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Ginebra opened up with seven unanswered points and then built a 22-point lead early in the second half before weathering several Talk ‘N Text rallies to secure its first Finals appearance in two years.

Rallying from a 1-2 deficit for a 3-2 series win, Ginebra advanced opposite Alaska in a best-of-five championship showdown that starts Wednesday, with the Kings having a chance for a first title since the 2008 Fiesta Conference with the 7-foot Chris Alexander.

LA Tenorio was the biggest man on the floor for the Kings, shooting 12 of his 28 points in the fourth period, including several clutch layups that helped put the Texters away and take the Kings to their 20th title series in the history of their popular franchise.

Vernon Macklin added 22 points that went with 20 rebounds and Mac Baracael played his finest game in a Ginebra uniform with 21 markers built around eight triples. Old hands Kerby Raymundo and Jay-Jay Helterbrand also finished with twin digits and combined for 28 more points.

Talk ‘N Text was led by the 42 points of Tony Mitchell and Jason Castro finished with 15 points before fouling out.

But the Texters were easier to handle last night because of several missing personnel.

Ranidel de Ocampo did not suit up for the Texters because of a swollen calf sustained late in Game 4 from a wayward knee from Rudy Hatfield.

His absence created a gaping hole in the middle for the Texters as far as defending Macklin was concerned.

Talk ‘N Text could have obviously used De Ocampo’s 13.8-point and 5.8-rebound averages in the series.

Jimmy Alapag, the 2008 MVP, played brief minutes for the Texters but was still clearly hobbled by a calf injury that kept him out of the last two games. Jared Dillinger and Kelly Williams were the other two injured Talk ‘N Text stars.

With a heavily bandaged left knee, reigning MVP Mark Caguioa—out for the last 11 Ginebra games—made his entry with 34.5 seconds left to a resounding roar from a crowd of more than 20,000 and contributed two free throws off Ali Peek that eventually rounded out scoring.

“I give it to Talk ‘N Text for fighting hard even though they were missing several men,” Ginebra coach Alfrancis Chua said.

Alaska will obviously come in the championship as the fresher team after playing just five games in these playoffs. The Aces bundled out Air21 in one game in the quarterfinals before ending San Mig Coffee’s reign with a 3-1 Final Four win.

Ginebra took a 61-41 lead into the locker room after Helterbrand hit a triple with 1.8 seconds left in the second quarter, and the Kings actually took a 22-point lead after Rudy Hatfield converted on a layup in their first possession in the second half.

The scores:

GINEBRA 111—Tenorio 28, Macklin 22, Baracael 21, Helterbrand 15, Raymundo 13, Hatfield 6, Urbiztondo 3, Caguioa 2, Ellis 1, Mamaril 0.

TALK ‘N TEXT 103—Mitchell 42, Castro 15, Peek 11, Reyes 10, Ferriols 9, Aban 8, Fonacier 3, Al-Hussaini 2, Carey 2, Raymundo 1, Gamalinda 0, Alvarez 0, Alapag 0.

Quarters: 27-18, 61-41, 78-69, 111-103