Ginebra survives Air21 for 5th straight win even with key guys sidelined

MANILA, Philippines —Ginebra withstood a late-game comeback by Air21 for a 90-84 win — its fifth straight — Wednesday in the 2013 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Kings wrestled the lead back from the Express with 3:18 to go even as big shots from Elmer Espiritu and Robert Labagala, who played extra minutes due to injured teammates, and Vernon Macklin sealed them their fifth win.

“Without Kerby [Raymundo], Mark [Caguioa] and Rico [Maierhofer], it’s hard. Pero yung mga hugot players namin nag-step up, lahat nagcontribute,” said head coach Alfrancis Chua.

Raymundo was out this game due to a bad flu, Maierhofer, meanwhile, is nursing an injured foot and Caguioa with a MCL grade 1 sprain.

Macklin, meanwhile, pounced on the absence of Mike Dunigan down the stretch, finishing with an and-one to give them the lead back, 79-81, then nailing a crucial tip with 25.6 seconds left.

He finished with 32 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks while his counterpart Dunigan just had 16 points and eight rebounds as the fouls piled on early.

The Kings cruised to an early lead, by as much as 14 points in the first quarter, before Niño Canaleta heated up for the Express.

Canaleta finished with 29 points on 5-of-11 shooting from downtown– playing like Air21’s import.

Even with its frontcourt hobbled by fouls, the Express still went down swinging as they turn a 61-70 deficit at the end of third to a 79-76 lead with 3:34 left to play.