GINEBRA import Vernon Macklin reaches in for a slam over Ranidel De Ocampo and Jayson Castro in last night’s still-unfinished Game 4 of the semifinal series at Smart Araneta Coliseum. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
PLAYING in a do-or-die game for the third time in close to a month, Barangay Ginebra did what it is traditionally very good at: Survive.
Vernon Macklin scored a PBA career-high 37 points, including a string of four crucial markers that helped the Gin Kings eke out a 104-101 win over Talk ‘N Text and take their Final Four Commissioner’s Cup series to the full route at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Kings weathered a furious scoring effort by Talk ‘N Text import Tony Mitchell and held the Tropang Texters to just four points in the final 3:55 to easily erase a 95-97 deficit and level the best-of-five series after four games.
The decider is set tomorrow at 6:15 p.m. also at the Big Dome in Cubao, with Ginebra looking to win a fourth straight KO game counting its two quarterfinals matches with No. 2 Rain or Shine.
Alaska, meanwhile, tries to end San Mig Coffee’s reign as Commissioner’s Cup champion today when the Aces clash with the Mixers in Game 4 of what has been a very tight Final Four series at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Gametime is 6:15 p.m. with the Aces enjoying the momentum after pulling off two close wins, highlighted by a classic 89-82 overtime triumph in front of the largest-ever PBA crowd last Wednesday.
“I really can’t say anything, the boys simply did not quit,” Ginebra coach Alfrancis Chua said. “This win is for my players.”
Ginebra actually blew a 10-point lead at the half and trailed, 90-94 after a barrage of baskets from the 6-foot-5 Mitchell, who was deadly all night save for the final 3:55, when he suddenly blew cold.
Still, Mitchell finished with 45 points in just his second game on Philippine soil and he almost beat the Kings singlehandedly until he went without a field goal in the stretch.
Mitchell missed at least five very makeable tries from close range, including a running jumper with under 30 seconds remaining which could have tied it at 101-all.
LA Tenorio was then sent to the free throw line by a duty Jason Castro foul and Ginebra’s starting guard made both charities for a 103-99 lead with only 14.3 seconds remaining that sent a crowd of over 14,000 roaring.
The game was physical to say the least and Chua called out to the league during the customary winning coach’s interview to look very closely at how the Texters played Macklin.
“The referees should call some of the cheap shots,” Chua said. “We’re going to play hard, but we won’t hurt anyone with career-ending shots. Ranidel (De Ocampo) hit Macklin in the groin and Ryan Reyes punched him twice.”
The scores:
GINEBRA 104—Macklin 37, Helterbrand 17, Tenorio 16, Ellis 13, Raymundo 12, Baracael 7, Hatfield 2, Espiritu 0, Urbiztondo 0.
TALK ‘N TEXT 101—Mitchell 45, De Ocampo 12, Castro 7, Carey 7, Al-Hussaini 6, Reyes 6, Raymundo 4, Fonacier 4, Ferriols 4, Peek 4, Alvarez 2, Aban 0.
Quarters: 26-29, 65-55, 81-81, 104-101