Ginebra juggernaut claims Rain or Shine

Ginebra juggernaut claims Rain or Shine

Ginebra 90 vs. Rain or Shine 73

recap by rick olivares pic by napster cruz

October 29, 2010

Araneta Coliseum

Is the sleeping juggernaut beginning to hum?

Barangay Ginebra head coach Jong Uichico thinks so.

The Kings thrashed the struggling Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 90-73 in the main game of the Friday night double header at the Big Dome that was devoid of any drama that prevented the normally pro-Ginebra crowd from chanting their usual “Gi-ne-bra” to get their team rolling.

For the fourth time in six matches, the Kings posted a lead of over 20 points as they just dropped a barrage of points from inside and outside to flummox a sluggish Rain or Shine squad.

The Elasto Painters actually started out well – even if only for two minutes – as they moved the ball around to stretch Ginebra’s defense for an early 7-0 lead.

Uichico quickly called for time and in two minutes, the Kings not only equalized but also took the lead for good following a Willie Miller jumper 11-9, Ginebra.

All 10 Ginebra players used by Uichico scored while counterpart Caloy Garcia had to go deep into his bench to find something,  anything that could click for his beleaguered side.

“Many of our players used to get more than 30 minutes a game with their previous teams,” explained the Ginebra mentor of his team’s success. “I think they’ve become genuinely happy for each other’s success on the court. When one scores, they cheer the other on.”

The Kings’ star-studded roster boasts of players who have made the mythical selections and have been named most valuable player, defensive player, and others that the pro league has been handing out through the years. Perhaps the sole player in the line-up who can best be considered a role player is their do-it all forward Willy Wilson who played a similar role when he was in college with De La Salle.

The prevailing theory is that all-star line-ups do not win championships, but if Uichico, a former PBA Coach of the Year in 2000 will tell you, anything is possible. Even without Eric Menk and JC Intal in the line-up.

The former is listed as day-to-day with a nagging hamstring injury while the latter fractured his right foot during their last game against the B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados. Incredibly, Intal managed to finish that game en route to scoring 10 points. Uichico said the slam-dunking forward could be back in two weeks.

The Kings moved the ball around for a game high 23 assists (to Rain or Shine’s measly eight). In each of the first two quarters, five Kings scored. In each of the last two periods, seven Ginebra players tacked more points on the board. And it was during that third quarter where the Kings put the game away as they outscored RoS 26-15 for a whopping 69-52 lead.

In the final frame, Ginebra matched their overmatched foes’ 21-point production for a 90-73 win. In their first three-game win streak since the 2010 Fiesta Cup elimination round when they went victorious in four straight matches. “We’re a work in progress,” added Uichico who also said he didn’t see a problem reintegrating Menk and Intal when they return for duty. It’s a problem I’d rather have than not having anyone who can score for us.”

Jayjay Helterbrand, Mark Caguiao, and Ronald Tubid, the trio dubbed “The Fast, the Furious, and the Fearless, and Willie “Thriller” Miller topscored for Ginebra for a combined 62 points while Solomon Mercado and Jay-R Reyes led the Elasto Painters with 10 points each.

Ginebra which has won by an average of 16.3 points in their three consecutive wins went up to 4-2 while the reeling RoS squad fell to 2-4.

Ginebra 90 – Miller 22, Tubid 17, Helterbrand 12, Caguiao 11, Hatfield 8, Aquino 6, Cortez 6, Mamaril 3, Villanueva 3, Wilson 2

Rain or Shine 73 – Mercado 10, Reyes 10, Jazul 8, Tang 8, Rodriguez 8, Norwood 6, Chan 6, Araña 4, Ferriols 4, Vanlandingham 3, Ibanes 1, Kramer 0, Bugia 0