source: gmanews.tv

Ginebra clicked on both ends of the floor Friday to turn back Barako Bull, 88-76, in their KFC-PBA Philippine Cup encounter at the Araneta Coliseum.

Ronald Tubid exploded for 30 points a week after setting a career-high 33 in Ginebra’s 113-104 win over Coca-Cola, and Johnny Abarrientos, the 1996 MVP, contributed six assists and six points in 29 minutes as the Gin Kings dealt the Boosters their seventh straight defeat.

A huge run in the middle periods, coupled with the Kings’ stinging defense that held the Energy Boosters to a 22.2 percent field goal shooting in the third, allowed the league’s most popular team to pull off its seventh win in 10 outings.

“Ronald is the kind of player you would want to have in your team," said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico. “Kung baga sa Tagalog, patay kung patay. As for Johnny, he may not be able to take the everyday grind and he may have lost a step or two, but his game sense is still there. Kung wala si Johnny baka wala kaming cohesion."

Eric Menk added 18 points – 12 coming in the second half – and JC Intal had 14 highlighted by an electrifying two-handed slam dunk on a perfectly-executed three-against-one fastbreak play directed by Abarrientos himself in the fourth quarter.

Leo Najorda collected 14 points to lead the Boosters, who gave the Gin Kings a big scare in the first half when they battled back from a 4-18 deficit, seized the lead at 19-18 and appeared to have enough steam to challenge the crowd favorite when they took a 36-33 advantage.

But Ginebra blew the game wide open with a 16-0 run bridging the second and third periods to claim a 49-36 upperhand, before establishing its largest margin at 66-48 on a split from Eric Menk with 1:32 left to play in the third period.

The Boosters got outscored 26-17 in the third period, much of their headaches coming from poor shot selections that led to a 4-for-18 clip from the field. They, too, were not able to convert on points off turnovers after coming through with 16 in the first half.

Although heavily favored to beat the Boosters, Uichico still heaved a sigh of relief, having overcome another obstacle despite missing Jay-Jay Helterbrand, Celino Cruz and Mark Caguioa due to injuries.

Helterbrand, who missed his fourth match in Ginebra’s last five games, is still expected to be out for another two weeks, according to Uichico. Cruz, who dislocated his shooting left hand, will most likely be back three weeks from now.

Caguioa’s return remains unpredictable, says Uichico, but the Ginebra coach said that his main offensive weapon has now been doing strengthening workouts.

The scores:

BARANGAY GINEBRA 88 - Tubid 30, Menk 18, Intal 14, Salvacion 8, Abarrientos 6, White 4, Villanueva 4, Mamaril 2, Baguio 2, Kramer 0, Alvarez 0.

BARAKO BULL 76 - Najorda 14, Alonzo 12, Aljamal 12, Membrere 10, Hubalde 7, Chia 6, Belano 6, Faundo 4, Menor 2, Dimaunahan 2, Crisano 1, Lao 0.

QUARTERSCORES: 20-19, 42-36, 68-53, 88-76.
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