MANILA, 21 December 2006 — Most teams and coaches would be satisfied with what Barangay Ginebra has so far done.
Fluid on the break and showing the hunger of a tail-ender, the Gin Kings last night tore Red Bull to shreds, 94-84, to book top ranking in the PBA Philippine Cup before coach Jong Uichico announced his craving for more.
“This (making the semifinals outright) is not our main goal,” Uichico told scribes a few minutes later. “We came here to win a championship and that’s what we’re going to do. Our job is not even half done.”
Rudy Hatfield scored 25 points and grabbed 18 rebounds to lead Ginebra, which not only advanced, but also gifted idle sister team San Miguel with the No. 2 seeding by shutting the door on the Barako.
Red Bull was in the game only in the opening minutes, falling behind by as many as 21 points in the third quarter before wrapping up its elimination round stint with an 11-7 card, good for an outright berth in the quarterfinals.
Making the semifinals meant at least a three-week break for the Kings and the Beermen, who were involved in a blockbuster trade just a couple of months back and have reaped the fruits, at least some of it.“The key (to winning this game) was that we came out and matched their intensity,” Uichico explained. “Anytime you play Red Bull, you have to come out expecting that they will play hard because they really do.”
Mark Caguioa scored 19 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out four feeds in another sterling job that made life easier for the rest of the team.
“We have just accomplished a small part of what we really want to do,” said Hatfield, who admitted to having a grand time playing for the crowd-darling team because he is being cheered on for a change.
“We want to win as many games as possible, just like coach said,” the 32-year-old banger said. “And that could be key to winning a championship.” Hatfield scored seven unanswered points in a critical moment late in the game, dousing cold water in the last of several Red Bull rallies that had the Barako coming within eight early in the fourth period.
Eric Menk tossed 21 points and had eight rebounds, Jay-Jay Helterbrand had 11 and six feeds and Sunday Salvacion was good for 10 first half points as Ginebra won for the seventh straight time.
Rookie Leo Najorda led the Barako with 20 points, Mick Pennisi added 15 and Carlo Sharma had 10 points as Red Bull failed to get big numbers from old reliables Enrico Villanueva, Larry Foncier and Junethy Valenzuela.
Ginebra closes out its elimination round schedule against Talk ‘N Text on Christmas eve and the Kings will get No. 1 seeding even if they end up tied with the Beermen at the end of the elimination round because of a superior quotient. But Uichico gave everyone the idea that his team will not be taking it easy despite of what they have achieved, for they have, after all, a full three weeks’ rest as an incentive for advancing to the Final Four outright.
Meanwhile, Welcoat ended its first PBA tournament with a little respect despite losing, 90-96, to the Alaska Aces in the first game at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Dragons fought hard but missed making the wildcard phase just the same.
But the manner in which they bowed out totally erased the stigma of how they opened up their maiden pro campaign, which saw them lose by 33 points to the Kings in the inaugurals last Oct. 1. Willie Miller led the Aces with 24 points and Tony dela Cruz chipped in with 20 as Alaska got more than what it bargained for from a Welcoat squad that played with a lot of pride.
Alaska improved to 7-10 and will see action in the wildcard phase.
