MANILA, 30 October 2006 — Pushed to the wall yet again, Barangay Ginebra last night was able to win a close shave for the first time.
The powerhouse Gin Kings got a huge lift from an unheralded guard in their star-studded line-up, prevailing 98-91 over Alaska to spark yet another winning streak — two games — in the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations.
Mark Macapagal drilled in 17 of his career-high 28 points in the fourth period, fuelling a searing Ginebra charge from several double-digit deficits to improve to 5-2 and occupy solo second place in the standings.
Macapagal benefited from a consistent double-teaming Alaska defense on Mark Caguioa, hitting four triples in the fourth quarter alone to ignite a delirious celebration from the pro-Ginebra crowd at the Araneta Coliseum.
Alaska’s defense was trained on Caguioa in the fourth period after the shifty guard erupted for 14 of his 27 points in the third which brought the Kings back into the fight after trailing by as many as 14 in the second quarter.
For Alaska , it was the fifth straight loss in a cellar-dwelling 1-6 card, no thanks to the injuries suffered by forward Reynel Hugnatan and cornerstone guard Mike Cortez, who will be out for the rest of the season because of a knee injury.
“This is one of those close games where we came out on top for the first time,” Ginebra’s Jong Uichico said. “The games we won were by more than 10 points and the ones we lost were the ones that were close.
“This will help build the character of this team,” he added. “And it is a good sign that tells us that we can be there (to compete with the tough teams).”
Eric Menk also shone, shooting 20 points and grabbing 14 rebounds to complete a three-sided spear that pierced the very hearts of the Aces at crunchtime.
Meanwhile, Chris Pacana, a Fil-American who was not even in the Coca-Cola roster when the tournament began, may have finally sealed his spot in the team.
The 6-foot, California-born point guard, was also big in the fourth period for the Tigers, who preserved a 92-86 victory for Coke over Welcoat after scoring four points in the final 18.8 seconds of the first game.
Pacana actually scored 14 of his career-high 18 points in the final 12 minutes, and the final four were the most crucial as the Tigers won for the first time in three games and improved to 3-4 overall. For the newcomer Dragons, it was the third consecutive defeat — their longest in their short PBA life — and one that was painful considering that they had an 80-75 lead with just over three minutes left.
“I told him (Pacana, at the start of the season) that this was not his time yet,” Coke coach Binky Favis explaned. “I told him that I was putting him in (the lineup) because of circumstances (injury to Ronjay Enrile).”
Enrile had to be placed on the injured list because of a calf muscle pulled in Coke’s second game of the season, which was, ironically, against this same Welcoat team, an 85-75 loss. “I knew that he is a hell of an offensive player,” Favis continued.
“Now, we’re getting a bonus because his defense has improved a lot.”
In games played Saturday, Sta. Lucia improved the league-leading record to 5-1 in San Fernando , Pampanga after blitzing the Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals, 102-90.
Rookie Kelly Williams scattered 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Kenneth Duremdes backed him up with 17.
San Miguel won a third straight game and climbed to a level 3-3 over in Subic , Zambales after getting 18 points from Wesley Gonzales in a 118-102 demolition job of the Air21 Express.
