MANILA, 31 March 2007 — At this point, Rudy Hatfield seems to be the most important component for Barangay Ginebra.
Talk ‘N Text last night snapped the Gin Kings’ four-game winning run in the PBA Fiesta Cup on a night Rudy Hatfield orphaned the team to take care of important matter back in the United States.
The result was a 99-92 come-from-behind victory by the Phone Pals as the Kings could not sustain a torrid first half because of lack of dependable manpower on the floor.
JJ Sullinger scored 17 of his 31 points in the final two quarters and Mark Cardona fired all but seven of his 28 in the same stretch to lead the Phone Pals to a level 3-3 card that put them back in the thick of the fight. “As I have kept telling the players, they must step up and put consistency in our game,” Talk ‘N Text coach Derrick Pumaren said later. “The reason we have been on a roller-coaster ride is because no one has been consistent.”
Talk ‘N Text is the team depleted most after lending its core to the National team last month. But Pumaren believes that he has the remaining tools to win in this tournament, only problem is how to get it functioning each game.
He didn’t have much problem last night as relief guard Egay Billones came off the bench to shoot 14 and only two of 11 men utilized failed to score.
Ginebra, meanwhile, dropped to 4-2 as Rod Nealy failed to get significant local help with only Mark Macapagal and Eric Menk scoring in twin digits with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Hatfield, the tournament’s leading local rebounder, left for the United States in a huff on Thursday to fix some pressing matters concerning his forthcoming wedding.
Welcoat, meanwhile, snapped a three-game losing streak and forced Air21 to a skid after dealing the Express a 103-99 victory in extra time in the first game.
The Dragons, who lost their last two games by an average margin of 21 points, spewed fire when they needed to and won out in a shootout in the stretch to win for only the second time in six outings overall.
After leading this tournament until Wednesday when they were humbled by Red Bull, 111-116, the Express now have a losing streak going to slide down the standings with a 4-2 record despite another giant fourth quarter from Gary David.
Air21 blew control in the third period and was dragged into a see-saw game by the Dragons who are playing with a lot of poise with import Charles Clark, who tossed in a night-high 40 points, leading the way.
Jay-R Reyes and Denver Lopez each added 19 points, with Reyes helping off the boards with 13 rebounds and five blocks.
“I’m very happy, because we were able to bounce back after embarrassing losses to Alaska and Talk ‘N Text,” said coach Leo Austria. Welcoat’s defense did hold last night, holding the Express to 12 points in the third quarter to make a game out of it before stifling Air21 in the final 1:58 of overtime and not allowing a single point.
The 6-foot-4 Clark, who has lost a lot of weight ever since his lackluster debut, is showing steady improvement and has become a dependable go-to-guy for his team that really has no marquee player to talk about.
Meanwhile, the Express missed enforcer Homer Se, who was suspended a game and fined P50,000 by the Commissioner’s Office for physically coming into contact with referee Throngy Aldaba during that loss to the Barako.
Also, Alaska seeks a share of the lead today when it collides with Purefoods and Marquin Chandler in a road game scheduled at the Subic gym in Olongapo.
Game time is 7 p.m. with the Aces seeking to win a third straight game and join the idle Barako on top of the heap at 5-1. The Tender Juicy Giants, on the other hand, are 2-1 with Chandler back and 2-4 overall.
The loss also spoiled another great offensive game by Gary David, who tossed in 17 of his 27 points in the fourth period, including a string of six straight in an 8-0 run that gave Air21 an 82-74 lead with 5:50 left in regulation. But the Dragons battled patiently back with Denver Lopez joining the fray. Welcoat had a 93-90 lead with 34.4 left after two Lopez free throws off Wynne Arboleda before Arwind Santos sent the game into extra time with a triple with 25.4 left.
Lopez also set up Rob Wainwright perfectly for what could have been the game-clinching play in regulation. But the 6-foot-5 Fil-American forward’s running short stab was swatted away by Sean Daniels as time expired.
