Noel atones for previous boo-boo, leads Kings to Game 5 win

MANILA, Philippines – Barangay Ginebra fans may now absolve David Noel for those big missed free throws in Game 4 of the Motolite-PBA Fiesta Cup Finals. Atoning for the boo-boo that cost his team the game, the Barangay Ginebra import exploded for 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Kings held off the San Miguel Beermen, 106-98, in Game 5 Monday night to take a 3-2 lead in their title series at the Araneta Coliseum. Noel, whose three crucial free throws resulted to a painful 106-104 Game 4 setback for Ginebra, struck hardest in the fourth quarter by scoring 13 points that quelled a vicious uprising by the Beermen, who nearly overhauled a once imposing 18-point, 62-44 deficit. The Kings can wrap up the championship with another victory on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum. If accomplished, the title will be Ginebra’s ninth in franchise history and coach Jong Uichico’s 10th. “We shot very well tonight," said Uichico, who is also on the verge of beating SMB coach Siot Tanquingcen for the first time in a series. “Hope we can get luckier on Wednesday. But we know what San Miguel Beer is capable of." Erik Menk added 18 points and seven rebounds, Chico Lanete and Ronald Tubid each contributed 14 points as the Gin Kings survived a hurting JayJay Helterbrand (sore hamstring). Mike Cortez led San Miguel with 23 points while Gabe Freeman had 16, but the Best Import awardee fouled out with 3:01 left after trying to stop Noel in a play that saw the Ginebra reinforcement converting the basket and knocking down the bonus free throw that gave the Gin Kings a 98-89 lead. That play came just as the Kings squandered an 18-point bulge and got threatened, 72-71, on a split by Dorian Pena early in the fourth quarter. But Tubid converted a 3-point shot with a foul to boot from Dondon Hontiveros. He made the bonus shot to make it 76-71 and Ginebra went on a 15-6 tear to claim a 91-77 advantage with 6:05 remaining in the game. Even with Helterbrand struggling, the Gin Kings were still able to dominate the first half, claiming a 56-42 advantage, the biggest margin after two quarters so far in the series. – GMANews.TV