Barangay Ginebra 93 vs. B-Meg Derby Ace 82
by rick olivares & nonoy lacza
October 24, 2010
Araneta Coliseum
On the night the B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados were awarded their championship rings (for winning last season’s Philippine Cup), they were soundly drubbed by long-time rival Barangay Ginebra 93-82.
Many of the current Kings players remember going 1-3 against Purefoods/B-Meg last season and they wanted nothing more than to get back at the defending champions and post their first two-match win streak of the Philippine Cup.
And after seven minutes of play, it seemed that the Kings were going to run the Llamados off the floor after posting a 15-zip lead.
After one half, the champs scored only 29 points; a number they routinely score in the first quarter of play alone. Ginebra was up 47-29 but they weren’t about to count their chickens before they hatched.
They had seen this same scenario a week ago when they spotted San Miguel Beer a 15-point lead at the half but the Beermen took over the third quarter with a 28-9 blitz that sapped the fight out of the Kings.
“We wanted to maintain that cushion,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico of their halftime lead. “At the half we talked about sustaining our intensity. We couldn’t afford to come out flat.
The Kings padded their lead behind the sterling play of Rudy Hatfield, Willie Miller, and JC Intal who combined for 20 out Ginebra’s 28 points to the 22 of B-Meg for a 75-51 lead. At one point, the Kings’ lead went up by 30 points following a three-point play on an Intal drive and a foul from KG Canaleta; 67-37 at the 4:26 mark.
With his players unable to get anything going, B-Meg coach Jorge Gallent sent in KG Canaleta who has been struggling with consistency. The slam-dunking forward out of the University of the East hit a triple off a staggered screen that kick started B-Meg’s rally. Teammates Jonas Villanueva hit two while another UE Red Warrior, rookie Val Acuña, nailed his second of the game to bring down the lead to 14, 65-79.
Ginebra stopped B-Meg’s momentum with four straight free throws from Cortez and center Rico Villanueva who played his best effort of the Philippine Cup (eight points, eight rebounds, and two assists). Hatfield countered with four more points for an 87-68 Ginebra lead that gave them control of the match once more.
“Malas,” was the only thing B-Meg’s James Yap could only say of his team’s collective performance. He was hounded all game long by different Kings players who forced him into a horrendous 2-14 shooting from the field (although he hit 4-5 from the free throw line) and two turnovers.
When asked if the ring ceremony distracted them, Yap wasn’t sure but he did concede that the Kings wanted it more. “Nadala sila dun sila sa pagkatalo nila sa San Miguel. Di mo naman akalain na nasa 1-4 kami. At least halos dikit dikit yung mga team so kailangan kami sa next game namin or delikado na.”
Ginebra’s dominance on the boards (54-47 with 18 offensive caroms) helped them score 18 fastbreak points and 22 turnover points.
“I like the way we responded to B-Meg’s pressure and comeback,” summed up Uichico outside his team’s dugout. “But we still need to do a lot of work because there were parts of the game where there was clearly a lack of teamwork and chemistry.”
Ginebra 93 – Tubid 14, Hatfield 14, Miller 11, Intal 10, Cortez 9, Villanueva 8, Caguioa 8, Helterbrand 7, Wilson 6, Mamaril 6, Aquino 0
B-Meg Derby Ace – 82 Simon 14, Yap Roger 12, Villanueva 9, Acuña 8, Gaco 8, Yap James 8, Maierhofer 7, Salvador 7, Allado 4, Canaleta 3, Adducul 2
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