MANILA: How about an offense-minded Cabatu for Barangay Ginebra?

Displaying a scorer’s mentality far different from the one his father had in his career, Jun-Jun Cabatu last night delivered the goods when it mattered as the Gin Kings broke away in the stretch for a 101-92 victory over Air21 in the Philippine Cup eliminations.

Cabatu drilled in three triples in the fourth quarter of the best game of his young pro career, two of them coming inside the final 3:44 as the Gin Kings won for the second straight time at the Araneta Coliseum despite a badly-decimated lineup. “What can I say,” coach Jong Uichico later told reporters, smiling.

Cabatu finished with 23 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals in a sterling effort that far exceeded his status in the team, he being the final addition to the roster after walking in to try out for the last spot.

The 24-year-old, whose father Sonny won a championship with Ginebra in the Robert Jaworski era, played with the poise of a superstar when the Kings needed it as the crowd-darlings rolled to their second straight victory. That tied Ginebra with idle Rain or Shine, the surprise package of the tournament thus far, and Alaska, while the loss gave the Express the cellar to themselves, that being their third straight. The win was also the third straight for Ginebra over the Express counting the last two games of the Fiesta Cup Finals, which the Kings wrapped up in seven games after erasing a 2-3 deficit.

And it proved to be even sweeter for the Kings, who were hobbled further last night with former MVP Eric Menk unable to play because of a hamstring pull and joining Rafi Reavis, Billy Mamaril and leading scorer Mark Caguioa in injured bay.

From a 90-91 deficit, Cabatu touched off the telling 11-0 run with a triple at the 3:44 mark before adding another one just more than a minute later which sandwiched a Jay-Jay Helterbrand jumper.

Ronald Tubid made a triple of his own from the right flank and made it 101-91 with 1:55 left, and that was enough for the Kings to take the fight out of the game Express, who remained as one of three winless teams in the field. The Aces, meanwhile, outgunned the Coca-Cola Tigers in the stretch of the first road game at the Victorias gym in Negros Occidental Saturday night for a 69-62 decision and a similar 2-0 card.

Coca-Cola took a second straight loss like Red Bull.

In last night’s first game, reigning MVP Kelly Williams and Bitoy Omolon had scorching second half performances that carried defending champion Sta. Lucia past Talk ‘N Text, 117-96.

Williams scored 12 of his 25 points in the third period and Omolon tossed in 15 of his 24 in the final frame as the Realtors broke away and became the first team to deal the fancied Tropang Texters a loss.

Talk ‘N Text, which underwent a massive manpower build-up in the off-season, simply couldn’t keep up with the Realtors in the stretch and dropped to 2-1.

“It’s nice to get a win against a very strong team,” Sta. Lucia’s Boyet Fernandez said.

Omolon, the wiry swingman, actually scored all of his 24 points in the final two quarters, where the Realtors outscored the Texters, 81-59.

In fact, Sta. Lucia’s 39 third quarter points easily eclipsed its 36-point first half production.

There were a total of six Realtors who finished in twin digits even as Talk ‘N Text was led by Mac Cardona’s 19 points and the 14 each of Jimmy Alapag and rookie Jason Castro.