GINEBRA import Michael Dunigan hangs on to the rim after an unmolested dunk in last night’s game against Rain or Shine at Cuneta Astrodome. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
MANILA, Philippines—Rain or Shine big man Beau Belga, for sure, has now become public enemy No. 1 for Barangay Ginebra.
After working the crowd into disliking him practically the whole game, Belga sealed a highly emotional, super-physical 82-79 decision of the Gin Kings with the defensive gem of the game Sunday night that kept the Elasto Painters in the hunt for a top-two finish in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations.
Rain or Shine rallied from 18 points down in the first half and from 79-71 with 4:25 remaining, finishing off the Gin Kings with a flurry of brilliant moves on both ends that frustrated the pro-Ginebra crowd at Cuneta Astrodome.
Belga got into altercations with several Ginebra players, taunted the pro-Ginebra gallery after each gem of a play before smothering the potential game-tying triple attempt of Mac Baracael in the waning seconds to preserve the win.
Not only that, Belga also combined with fellow heavyweight JR Quiñahan for 17 points in the third period that had the Elasto Painters erasing an 18-point first-half deficit and taking a 65-63 lead into the fourth period.
“It’s another one of those hard, rugged, exciting games against Ginebra,” Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao told reporters later. “In basketball, you have to find ways to win. We played harder and stayed focused.”
The 6-foot-5 Belga touched off Rain or Shine’s swashbuckling finish with two free throws off Japeth Aguilar, and the Rain or Shine defense also did its part by holding the Kings scoreless inside the final 4:25.
Paul Lee was also big, hitting a triple during that run and combining with import Wayne Chism, who scored six of the Painters’ closing 11 points.
Lee finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds and Chism, despite picking up three quick fouls in the first period, wound up with 28. Belga scored 11 points.
The win was the sixth in nine games for the Painters, who reclaimed a piece of second place with idle defending champion Purefoods and Talk ‘N Text while dropping the Kings to a second straight defeat in a 4-5 card.
Making the jump inside the top eight was NLEX, which drew 29 points from KG Canaleta in a 94-81 decision of Globalport in the curtain-raiser.
Ginebra fell into a tie for sixth place with Barako Bull, KIA and Globalport for sixth spot and in a very shaky position with all teams having just two games left on their respective schedules.
Things got ugly with 5:26 left and the Kings protecting a 77-71 lead as fans threw plastic water bottles in the direction of Belga. Three fans were escorted out of the premises, and Belga had the last laugh as he left the floor like a professional wrestler and continued to taunt Ginebra fans.
The scores:
First Game
NLEX 94—Canaleta 29, Thornton 19, Ramos 14, Taulava 8, Lingganay 7, Villanueva E. 4, Borboran 4, Baloria 3, Cardona 2, Villanueva J. 2, Arboleda H. 2.
GLOBALPORT 81—Caracter 27, Romeo 19, Semerad 12, Jensen 8, Nabong 6, Miranda 5, Espinas 3, Ponferrada 1, Buenafe 0, Isip 0, Pinto 0.
Quarters: 20-16, 40-36, 65-53, 94-81
Second Game
RAIN OR SHINE 82—Chism 28, Lee 18, Belga 11, Quinahan 8, Ibanes 6, Almazan 5, Uyloan 2, Arana 2,Cruz 2, Norwood 0, Chan 0, Tiu 0.
GINEBRA 79—Dunigan 24, Slaughter 10, Aguilar 9, Ellis 9, Caguioa 8, Tenorio 7, Yeo 7, Monfort 3, Baracael 2, Pena 0.
Quarters: 15-24, 38-48, 65-63, 82-79