PBA: Never-say-die Ginebra force winner-take-all versus Rain or Shine

(Updated 10:22pm) Barangay Ginebra San Miguel will live to fight another day as they gutted out a thrilling come-from-behind 90-83 victory over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, Saturday. Rain or Shine had entered the quarterfinals with a twice-to-beat advantage after finishing the elimination round with the second-best record. They'll be forced to use it, as after leading by 15, 60-45, 7:07 left in the third, Ginebra unloaded a vicious 13-0 run to get back into the thick of things. Veterans Kerby Raymundo, Jayjay Helterbrand, and Rudy Hatfield then conspired to give the Barangay the lead in the fourth quarter, while LA Tenorio completed the turnaround, a late three-point shot. Helterbrand was named the Best Player of the Game with 13 points, all in the fourth quarter, and two assists.   "We pulled off a miraculous victory," the veteran guard said. "Coach told us to play like there's no tomorrow because that's what will happen if we lose." Bruno Sundov and LA Tenorio exchanged three-point baskets early in the first quarter for a 5-5 tie. Vernon Macklin then quickly broke the deadlock with a fast break lay-up. After further deadlocks at 11-all and 13-all, the Elasto Painters were able to get a four-point advantage thanks to a Jeff Chan lay-up and a Sundov put-back at the 5:46 mark for a 17-13 count. It was some breathing room for Rain or Shine, but two dunks from Macklin sliced that in half, 21-19. Two free throws from Rudy Hatfield tied the game anew at 23-all, but a lay-up off a spin move from Sundov and two baskets from Paul Lee gave Rain or Shine a 29-23 lead at the end of the first quarter. Mac Baracael scored the first basket of the second quarter with an undergoal stab at the 9:55 mark. However, Jervy Cruz quickly replied with a jumper. After a long drought on offense for both teams, two Macklin baskets sandwiched a Sundov dunk for a 36-33 count in favor of Rain or Shine with less than five minutes remaining in the quarter. Chan then went on a 5-0 tear for a 41-33 RoS advantage. The 2012-13 Philippine Cup finalists then built their first double-digit lead of the game at 45-35, following another Chan lay-up at the 2:21 mark of the second. Chris Ellis was able to trim the Rain or Shine lead down to nine with a coast-to-coast slam dunk but Sundov got it back via a lay-up on the other side, for a 48-37 advantage at the end of the first half. Sundov led the Elasto Painters with 19 points at the half while Chan added 11 markers. The 7'3" Croation would go on to finish with 29 points in the game, but he was held down in the fourth quarter, double or triple-teamed every time he touched the basketball. The Elasto Painters kept their distance from the Barangay in their third quarter, a spin move and lay-up from Paul Lee giving them a 60-45 advantage at the 7:07 mark of the third. Just when it looked like Rain or Shine was ready to break the game wide open and announce their entry into the semifinals, Ginebra went on a 13-0 run thanks largely to the efforts of Tenorio and Kerby Raymundo, who cut the RoS lead down to a deuce. Jervy Cruz finally stopped his side's drought with a lay-up, good for a 62-58 lead at the end of the third. Ginebra did not waste time in the fourth quarter. Raymundo started things off with a reverse lay-up and Ellis converted a free throw. Urbiztondo then scored the go-ahead basket and Raymundo added another conversion for a 65-62 BGSM lead. The Kings continued the throwback theme of the fourth quarter as Jayjay Helterbrand scored on a jumper, then added a three-point basket, making it 71-67 at the 7:33 point of the payoff period. After two free throws from Chan, Helterbrand again connected with a jumper to give Ginebra another four-point lead. Hatfield also joined the veterans's party as he scored underneath off an Urbiztondo pass for a 77-70 Ginebra buffer. After a Rain or Shine free throw, Hatfield scored again, this time on an and-one play that upped their lead to nine points. Helterbrand then added another three-ball to give Ginebra their first double-digit lead of the game, 83-71. A kamikaze drive by Ryan Arana trimmed their foes' lead down to six with 2:01 left in the game. After a completed stop of the other end, Sundov further hauled his teammates within four, 83-79, but Helterbrand continued to wax hot, dropping a corner pocket three for an 86-79 count in their favor. Arana was able to score on a put-back to cut the Ginebra lead down to five, but he fouled Tenorio and sent him to the line. Luckily for Rain or Shine, Tenorio only managed to sink one free throw. The Jones Cup MVP then made amends with a dagger triple, to set up their do-or-die game on Monday. - AMD, GMA News The scores: GINEBRA 90 - Macklin 21, Tenorio 19, Raymundo 14, Helterbrand 13, Baracael 7, Hatfield 7, Ellis 5, Urbiztondo 4, Taha 0, Labagala 0, Mamaril 0. RAIN OR SHINE 83 - Sundov 29, Chan 15, Cruz 12, Arana 8, Lee 6, Norwood 5, Quinahan 4, Ibanes 4, Tiu 0, Matias 0, Belga 0, Rodriguez 0. Quarter scores: 23-29, 37-48, 58-62, 90-83