GUNS ABLAZE, GINEBRA DRUBS RoS

Kings move a win fom Finals

Barangay Ginebra picked up from where it left off Wednesday, outclassing Rain or Shine for the second straight game for a 96-85 win and the 3-2 lead in their own side of the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference best-of-seven semifinals series at the Araneta Coliseum Friday.

The Kings established control early and sustained the charge, making it two in a row versus the Elasto Painters to move a win shy of a return stint in the reinforced conference finale.

The reigning champions go for the clincher in Game Six Sunday or, if still necessary, in Game Seven Wednesday.

"It's really been a tough series. Hopefully, we've got the right attitude now how to deal with this team and we can pull it through Sunday," said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

"I'm guessing that we're now playing Rain or Shine with the right frame of mind. At the start, human nature siguro na nagrelax konti ang mga players namin because we beat them twice in the elimination round. We beat them playing with an all-Filipino lineup in the first game then we routed them in the next," Uichico added.

The Kings stayed focused on the job at hand and played relentlessly for the second straight game Friday, winning it in a wire-to-wire fashion.

David Noel was at his best at least in this series, coming through with 28 points and 17 rebounds.
Ginebra walloped Rain or Shine with Noel outperforming Jai Lewis and the Ginebra locals doing the same against their Rain or Shine counterparts.

Jayjay Helterbrand led the locals with 19 points and emerged Best Player of the Game for the third time in the series. He won the honors in all their won games.

Ronald Tubid was another Ginebra player who finished in double figures, going 2-of-5 from the three-point area, 2-of-5 from the two-point zone and 3-of-3 from the stripe for 13 points.

Lewis, with only 15 points, already wound up as the Painters' top scorer.

"Playoffs are about adjustments. Mukhang nahirapan mag-adjust ang Rain or Shine in a day's break. That's why I'm really hoping we can finish it Sunday, baka maka-adjust pa sila," said Uichico.

The Kings jumped the gun on the Painters, taking the first quarter at 23-13 and the half at 49-34.

Ginebra dominated the opening half with a torrid shooting which Rain or Shine had no answer for.

Noel was 2-of-3 from the three-point area and 4-of-7 from the two-point zone with the entire team hitting at a 48.6-percent clip as against Rain or Shine's 32.6-percent marksmanship in the first half. (NC)

The scores:

Ginebra 96 -- Noel 28, Helterbrand 19, Tubid 13, Baguio 8, Artadi 7, Reavis 7, Lanete 4, Intal 3, Wilson 3, Salvacion 2, Se 2, Mamaril 0.

Rain or Shine 85 -- Lewis 15, Tang 13, Arana 12, Isip 11, Reyes 11, Norwood 8, Wainwright 7, Ibanes 3, Salangsang 3, Laure 2, Dulay 0, Andaya 0.

Quarterscores: 23-13, 49-34, 74-59, 96-85

SOURCE: http://www.pba.ph/topstories/guns-ablaze-ginebra-drubs-ros