BARANGAY GINEBRA FINALLY NAILS ONE
Barangay Ginebra ended its chase for an elusive first win in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Wednesday night via a huge rout of Barako Bull at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Finally pulling a solid game, the Kings zapped the Energy Cola, 93-72, for the team’s first victory under coach Alfrancis Chua and the club’s first since Game Two of their Philippine Cup best-of-three quarterfinals showdown with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
The Kings poured all their frustrations on the Energy Cola, leading by as many as 28 before eventually breaking into the win-column in the mid-season tourney.
Mark Caguioa and his teammates were all business after a serious pow-wow upon their return from a road game in Tubod, Lanao del Norte where they dropped their first game with import replacement Vernon Macklin.
Macklin himself wouldn’t let his team down in this game.
The 6-foot-10, 227-pound import put in 10 of his 21 points in the third quarter where the Kings uncorked decisive runs to put the game away.
“Malakas kung malakas at ang kagandahan eh pumapasa. He’s a big boost to his teammates,” said Chua of Macklin.
“In practice, he talked to his teammates. He said ‘I’m an import but I’m human. Don’t mind me and just play your game.’ Magaling lumaro at magandang makisama sa teammates,” Chua also said.
The good performance of the locals was not lost on the new Ginebra mentor.
He thought they finally picked up their game as they started to believe in themselves again.
“We just can’t make baskets in our initial games. Bakit ganon? Mahirap sagutin. If we can’t make open shots, siguro kumpiyansa lang ang problema. I told the guys believe in yourself, your teammates at dadating din iyan,” said Chua.
Caguioa topscored with 23 points while Macklin came through with 21 points and 14 rebounds as the Kings scored their first win in the year.
They notched their first victory in five starts while dealing the Energy Cola a second loss against three triumphs.
The Kings avoided a 0-5 start. Curiously, the last time the team had this start (the 2008 Fiesta Conference), Ginebra went on to finish on top of everybody.
“Buti naman 0-4 lang ang start ng team sa akin,” sighed Chua.
And he’s hopeful they can make it two in a row versus Rain or Shine on Sunday. “I’ve lost 13 pounds since I handled the team. I hope to regain it Sunday,” he said.
Ginebra took the opening quarter at 21-11 and kept the initiative, enjoying a 39-26 lead at halftime break.
Mac Baracael gave the Kings the 13-point halftime spread with a fall-away three-pointer at the buzzer. (SB)
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