Ginebra keeps Blackwater winless

By: Bong Lozada - 10 years ago

Riego Gamalinda of Blackwater Elite (dark) vs Mac Baracael and Rodney Brondial of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (light). NUKI SABIO/PBA

MANILA, Philippines—With a listless team pestering them until the final buzzer, the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel kept their poise to hand Blackwater Elite a 100-91 setback and their fourth straight loss in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum Tuesday evening.

Despite their winless slate, the Elite tried to clamp down on the perennial crowd darlings with an 8-1 run to get to as close as 69-63 midway through the third with Bryan Faundo hitting back-to-back jumpers.

Forward Mac Baracael, though, would have none of it, as he drilled a three-pointer from the left wing right after Ginebra’s timeout to put the boards at 72-63 and regain the order.

Ginebra’s Fast and Furious duo ultimately trounced the Elite rebellion with a 7-0 run with Mark Caguioa hitting a floater and a jumper from the elbow and his running mate Jayjay Helterbrand knocking down a three from the corner to put Ginebra up by 15, 88-73.

Blackwater managed to cut the lead to 10, 96-86, with less than a minute remaining but Caguioa went for a steal and a layup on the other end, 98-86, to quell any possible upset.

Ginebra head coach Jeff Cariaso praised his veterans who carried the torch especially in the darker times of the game.

“It was a game we needed to win,” Cariaso said. “Mark was awesome, Mark was Mark; he did what he had to do.”

“When I call his number, he steps up, and tonight he did.”

Baracael led Ginebra with 19 points, eight rebounds and two steals as Caguioa followed suit with 18 points of his own.

Greg Slaughter pitched in with a nifty 10-point, 11-rebound double-double for Ginebra who goes up to a 3-1 win-loss card.

Elite Paul Artadi led all scorers with 21, 10 of which came from Blackwater’s run in the third, and six assists.

Bambam Gamalinda added 15 points and JP Erram and Faundo combined for 21 for the 0-4 Elite.