PBA: Ginebra continues winning ways, survives foul-plagued Air21

(Updated 9:05pm) Barangay Ginebra San Miguel continued their reversal of fortunes, stretching their win streak to five straight victories via a 90-84 squeaker over the Air21 Express, Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The fan-favorite franchise had begun the conference losing five of their first six games, but have since been on a roll, to move above .500 to 6-5.

The Air21 Express on the other hand have now lost two straight following a four-game climb, and drop to 5-7, the third-worst record in the league, above only Barako Bull Energy Cola (4-7) and the GlobalPort Batang Pier (2-9).

Trailing by nine and with their import in foul trouble, Air21 went small in the fourth quarter to draw Vernon Macklin out of the paint. The mismatches resulted in offensive boards for the Express, and they patiently moved the ball in the halfcourt. They went on a 13-6 run, forcing Ginebra to sue for time. The short break didn't help though, as the Express continued to pile on the points and took the lead, 79-76,on a two-hander by Michael Dunigan.

With four minutes to play though, Dunigan fouled out while battling Rudy Hatfield for a rebound. Ginebra then went on an 8-0 run highlighted by a Rob Labagala triple and Macklin and-one, 84-79.

KG Canaleta got to the line with two minutes to play and scored five straight to get Air21 within two, 86-84. But they gave up an offensive rebound and a turnover, and conceded a Macklin tip-in with 20 ticks to play.

Canaleta missed a trey but the Express got the offensive board, as Air21 regrouped with 9.3 seconds remaining. Nebert Omolon however fumbled a quick two, thus allowing Ginebra to finish the game from the line.

"Without Kerby [Raymundo], [Mark] Caguioa and Rico Maierhofer. It's hard," said Ginebra head coach Alfrancis Chua. "Air21 gave us a hard time. When their zone is clicking it's hard to score. Buti nalang yung mga hugot gaya ni Rob [Labagala] at Elmer [Espiritu did well]."

"This is a very good sign na our players are playing hard," Chua added. "Before the game I told them, 'yung mga katabi niyo sa game lang ang kasama niyo dito. Tingin ka sa kaliwa, tingin ka sa kanan, yan ang makakatulong niyo.'"

Macklin led all scorers with 32 points and 11 boards. Tenorio added 18 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Chris Ellis and Espiritu added 10 points each and combined for 10 boards.

"Iniisip lang namin kung sino ang makakalaban namin. We practiced for Air21... then we'll practice for Meralco," said Chua. "Kung saan kami dadalhin ng Diyos, doon kami. At least dahil sa game na 'to, umangat kami nang konti."

Ginebra kicked the game off with an LA Tenorio-Vernon Macklin alley-oop. Tenorio made Air21 pay for picking him up late in transition, resulting in open jumpers for the point guard. The Express' misses fueled Ginebra's attack, as a fast break lay-up by Chris Ellis gave them a 14-3 lead.

Air21 settled down and got their second field goal with under five minutes to play on a baseline jumper by Bonbon Custodio. But Ginebra was just as effective in the halfcourt, as Macklin and Ellis combined for 13 of their next 15 points. Macklin, frustrated by the Express' physical play down low, received a technical foul for shoving James Sena with 37 seconds to go. Custodio missed the technical free throw though, and Ginebra went on to take a 28-17 after the first period.

Tenorio tallied eight points in the first quarter on 3-of-5 shooting from the field.

KG Canaleta was huge for the Express' offense in the second quarter. After back-and-forth baskets by both teams, Canaleta dropped three straight treys to get Air21 within four, 36-32, near the seven-minute mark.

Ginebra replied with another Tenorio-Macklin slam and an and-one floater from Mac Baracael, 41-32, with five minutes to play. But Air21 held their on on defense and cut the deficit to 43-41, with a minute to play, after a three-ball by Mike Cortez. Macklin managed to salvage Ginebra's quarter with a last-second lay-up in transition, letting his side enter halftime on top, 46-41.

Ginebra did themselves no favors as they shot only 3-of-12 from the line in the second period (25 percent). On the other hand, after shooting 38.5 percent in the first quarter, the Express made 19-of-17 in the second period for a 14-of-30 clip by halftime (46.7 percent).

Canaleta scored 14 points in the second period on 5-of-7 shooting, including 4-of-6 from deep.


The Express made inroads when play resumed as they looked to pound the ball inside, briefly leading by a point on a Nonoy Baclao put-back. Ellis replied though with a cut to the basket, 50-49.

Dunigan picked up his fourth personal foul just four minutes into the period, and Ginebra was able to take a breather on buckets by Macklin and Ellis as the Air21 import played tentative defense. Dunigan was then forced to sit a minute and a half later after receiving a cut above his eye, as an Elmer Espiritu jumper made it a 56-51 game.

Wynne Arboleda and Canaleta drained consecutive treys as Air21 stuck around. They gambled and reinserted Dunigan and cut the lead to 62-61 on a Canaleta lay-up. However the Express' import picked up his fifth foul with two minutes left on a Macklin putback slam. Ginebra went on to score eight unanswered to end the third, 70-61.

Ginebra posted an 11-2 advantage in fast break points. They also enjoyed a 23-of-40 advantage from the free throw line (57.5 percent), thanks largely to Macklin's 12-of-21 attempts. On the other hand, Air21 was 14-of-19 on charities.

Air21 had a 19-9 margin on second-chance points.

KG Canaleta led Ginebra with 29 points and six rebounds. Michael Dunigan had 16 points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes of play, while Mike Cortez added 12 points.  - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

BGSM 90 - Macklin 32, Tenorio 18, Ellis 10, Espiritu 10, Helterbrand 6, Labagala 4, Mamaril 4, Baracael 3, Wilson 2, Taha 1, Hatfield 0

A21 84 - Canaleta 29, Dunigan 16, Cortez 12, Sena 8, Baclao 8, Custodio 6, Arboleda 3, Menor 2, Atkins 0, Wilson 0, Isip 0, Omolon 0, Ritualo 0

Quarter scoring: 28-17, 46-41, 70-61, 90-84