“Yes,”
Uichico beamed when asked if he was satisfied at the way his Gin Kings posted a
93-82 victory over undermanned defending champions Derby Ace in the PBA
Philippine Cup eliminations at the Araneta Coliseum.
“Because
tonight we had a good start and we were able to sustain it,” Uichico continued
as he compared the sputtering finish of his Kings Friday night in a 93-74
victory over Barako Bull at the Cuneta Astrodome.
“They
started out flat and we took advantage of it,” he usually soft-spoken mentor
added. “Unlike (Friday) when we almost lost the game, and the final outcome did
not really say how close it got in the endgame.” Rudy Hatfield was brilliant
for the second straight game for the Kings, scattering 14 points and pulling
down 12 boards. He shot four straight points – a completed three-point play and
a free throw – in a crucial span in the fourth period that restored an 18-point
Ginebra lead.
Ginebra
won back-to-back games for the first time in the young tournament and climbed
to 3-2, while the Llamados, who again played without three of its best big men,
dropped to 1-4 and alone at the bottom.
Ronald
Tubid came off the bench, played just 19 minutes and was also good for 14
points for Ginebra, which got 11 and five assists from former two-time MVP
Willie Miller and 10 points from starting forward JC Intal.
The Kings
opened up a 15-0 lead and allowed Derby Ace’s first basket only at the 5:52
mark of the first quarter before holding the Llamados to a paltry 29-point
total at the half for an 18-point lead heading into the third period.
Ginebra
then made it look like it would be a cakewalk as the Kings even took a 30-point
lead late in the third only for the Llamados to suddenly spring back to life
and score 31 points in the payoff frame.
“What
makes me happy about this win is that the team showed character in the closing
minutes and we were able to break their momentum,” Uichico said.
Peter
June Simon scored 14, and Roger Yap added 12 and finished as the only two
players in twin digits for the Llamados, who were not only handicapped with the
absence of Marc Pingris, Rafi Reavis and Kerby Raymundo because of injuries but
were also slowed down because James Yap, the reigning MVP, still couldn’t get
going.
Yap, who
was the Best Player of this conference last season, struggled to shoot only
eight points after failing to make a triple in six tries and making only 2-of-8
field goal attempts in 30 total minutes on the floor.
In the
first game, newcomer Meralco snapped a three-game losing streak by bringing
down inconsistent Rain or Shine, 87-79.
Mac
Cardona, who shot more than 50% from the field this time, scattered 27 points
and Gabby Espinas added 18 and the Bolts outsteadied the Elasto Painters in a
tight fourth quarter to rise to 2-3.
“In our
last three losses, we allowed ourselves to just roll over and die,” Meralco
coach Ryan Gregorio said. “Now we are beginning to adjust to each other’s
strengths.” Solomon Mercado shot 17 points and led the Painters in scoring for
the second straight game, and Gabe Norwood chipped in with 15. But their
efforts went to naught as the Painters dropped into a tie with their conquerors.
“It’s a
great feeling to win against a quality team. We believe that we can compete. We
believe that we can survive this conference and we’re just going to take it one
day at a time.” Meralco’s only other win came against another quality team in
the Kings, 73-72, in the inaugurals last Oct. 3.
