MANILA, 24 February 2007 — Royal again.
Its never-say-die spirit again coming to fore, Barangay Ginebra last night pounded out a 96-94 decision of San Miguel to close out their PBA Philippine Cup championship series, 4-2, and regain the greatness it briefly lost.
The Gin Kings battled back from 16 points down in the second period and Jay-Jay Helterbrand capped a great night for himself by nailing the winning free throws with 2.9 seconds left that ignited a frenzied celebration at the Araneta Coliseum.
Ginebra’s victory was the fourth straight as the Kings again showed their resiliency throughout the title series by doggedly coming back even after being down 0-2 close to two weeks ago.
The Kings won their seventh championship, a collection that started during the Robert Jaworski era in the mid-1980s when the never-say-die spirit was actually born and has become the trademark of this team.
Those Helterbrand free throws were the highlight of the series, which drew record crowds each and every night that rooted for the Kings even when they were down.
“This is a new chapter in my life, winning my first championship with Ginebra,” coach Jong Uichico later told Arabnews. “This really means something to me. San Miguel really brought out the best in us.
“We actually brought out the best in each other,” added Uichico, now a seven-time champion coach. “If only we could have two champions, because both of us deserve it.” Helterbrand was later named the Finals Most Valuable Player, his 11 fourth quarter points last night and being the key to the Kings’ comeback in the series not escaping the eyes of mediamen covering the beat. “It’s a great honor,” Helterbrand said.
“This (trophy) is gravy.” For a while, it looked like the Beermen, the league’s winningest team with 17 titles to their credit, were on the way to forging a deciding seventh game, leading by 41-25 early in the second period and looking to bury the Kings deeper. But Ginebra kept itself in the game despite coming out not in its best form, and this, Uichico said, was what he thought was the key to the title-clinching win.
“We played very well just when the game was getting out of reach,” Uichico said. I just told the players to just hang in there because something good is going to happen.
The Beermen even had a 75-65 lead after two Danny Seigle free throws off Rafi Reavis heading into the final 10:06, but San Miguel failed to put the finishing touches by failing to stop Ginebra’s outside guns.
Johnny Abarrientos, in possibly his final season, and Helterbrand each hit triples in a 10-0 blast the knotted the game, before San Miguel re-established a five-point lead after a Seigle three-point play and two Dondon Hontiveros free throws.
But fight harder the Kings did as they grabbed their first lead since the first period courtesy of a Mark Caguioa free throw off a technical foul slapped on Danny Ildefonso for constant complaining.
Sunday Salvacion was also big in the stretch, connecting on timely baskets, including a long two-pointer with 35.9 seconds left that posted the game’s last tie at 94.
Hontiveros and Tugade then missed shots for the Beermen and Helterbrand was able to call for time that enabled Uichico to draw up the game winning play.
Helterbrand was fouled hard by William Wilson on the way to the hoop and he calmly nailed both free throws.
