MANILA, 30 November 2006 — Barangay Ginebra’s Jong Uichico and Chot Reyes of San Miguel saw their teams play basically the same way last night.
Uichico couldn’t stand it. Reyes loved it.
The Gin Kings and the Beermen hammered separate foes after scorching second half performances in the PBA Philippine Cup last night, shaking the elimination round standings in the process with Ginebra the biggest benefactor of the San Miguel victory.
Ginebra got a combined 19 points from Rudy Hatfield and Mark Caguioa in the third period as the Kings woke up just in time to pound newcomer Welcoat, 87-66, before San Miguel posted a 113-98 beating of Sta. Lucia later.
Uichico’s squad climbed into a tie for the lead with the Realtors at 9-4, while the Beermen rose to 8-5 in the standings, just a full game behind the pace, tied for third place with the idle Red Bull Barako heading into the final month of the elimination round.
“(Our effort) leaves a lot to be desired,” the soft-spoken Uichico later said. “It’s like we don’t take our playing (the game) seriously. We just can’t switch it on and off. What if it doesn’t happen?”
Welcoat lost for the 10th time in 13 games, now tied with Coca-Cola at the cellar. “It’s good that we recovered in the second half,” Uichico added. “I’m happy with the win, don’t get me wrong. But I’m not happy with the way we started (the game). We can’t do that against the other (stronger) teams.”
Hatfield and Caguioa were actually the only Kings who clicked all night, shooting 41 points in the first three quarters to finish with 24 and 21, respectively, and lead the Kings.
The others in the star-studded lineup struggled, none greater than starting point guard Jay-Jay Helterbrand, who finished with six points, and Eric Menk, who was good for only a free throw and five rebounds in 30 minutes of action.
Ronald Tubid scored 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter for the Kings, who basically failed to post a repeat of their 33-point rout of this same team in the inaugurals last Oct. 1.
While Uichico sulked in anticipation of gloomy days ahead if he fails to get his team to work hard everyday, Reyes was all smiles when he entered the press room for the customary winning coach’s interview.
“It’s like we were two different San Miguel teams out there tonight,” said Reyes. “We opened the second half with a lot of energy and that was the key. We just scored heavily in the third quarter and wore them out.”
San Miguel, getting 12 points from Danny Seigle and 10 from Dorian Pena in the third quarter, outscored the Realtors in that stretch, 42-19, to easily turn a 36-49 halftime deficit to a 78-68 lead entering the final 12 minutes.
Seigle was just magnificent, shooting all but two of his 33 points in the final three periods, including 22 in the second half, as the Realtors fell to their worst loss in the tournament and found company at the top for the first time since the first two weeks.
Sta. Lucia led by as many as 49-33 late in the second period, until the Beermen turned up the heat at the start of the third qhich caught Sta. Lucia flat-footed.
Dondon Hontiveros helped a great deal in the third period with eight of his 16, and Danny Ildefonso fired six markers, as the Realtors never really figured out what hit them.
“We also limited our turnovers in the second half,” Reyes explained. “After having 16 turnovers in the first (half), we finished the game with just 23. Seven turnovers in the second half can truly spell the difference.”
Rookie Kelly Williams, this year’s first overall choice, led the Realtors with 18 points, while Alex Cabagnot drilled in 16.
But stars Marlou Aquino and Kenneth Duremdes combined for just 10, with both going scoreless in the fourth quarter when it mattered most.
