Kings relive never-say-die spirit, trips Aces in Cebu

Barangay Ginebra relived its never-say-die spirit in front of Cebu basketball fans as the Kings rallied back from a 10-point fourth quarter deficit to frustrate coach Tim Cone’s Alaska Aces, 105-93, in a Phoenix Fuel PBA on Tour game before a large Saturday crowd at the Cebu Coliseum. Eric Menk combined with the quartet of Mark Caguioa, JayJay Helterbrand, Ronald Tubid and Willie Miller to spark a telling Ginebra rally that saw the Kings battled back from a 75-85 deficit in the final 9:12 of the thrilling contest.

Caguioa’s coast to coast drive launched that Ginebra comeback, before Miller – fouled from three-point range by LA Tenorio – tied the game at 91 by sinking two of three free throws with three minutes left. Willie Wilson then scored his lone basket for the night but it was enough to put the Kings on top for good, 93-91, in the last 2:32 of the game. “We just kept fighting and fighting. Things just turned around at the right time in the fourth quarter," said coach Jong Uichico of the win that avenged Ginebra’s 86-81 loss to the Aces during their first meeting in a match where the Kings crumbled at endgame after leading by as many as 13 points. “Our players played their hearts out and that’s just the way the Ginebra team should play come what may." Eric Menk topscored with 25 points and Caguioa had 20 for the Kings, who reclaimed solo third place with a 7-4 card. Helterbrand and Miller – who finally scored a win over his former team each had 12, Milton Ambres added 10 and Tubid had nine, including a big three-pointer inside the final two minutes that made it 96-91. The Aces fell to 6-5 just a few days after scoring a 108-98 win over the Coca-Cola Tigers. Diamon Simpson led the Aces with 24 points, but never scored again after giving Alaska a 91-86 lead with 3:43 to play. Baguio, hero of the Aces’ first round win over the Kings, came through with 17, while Tony Dela Cruz and Joe DeVance had 11 each. – JVP, GMANews.TV