Brgy Ginebra wins series 4-2
Rudy Hatfield had a monster game (28 points, 12 rebounds) but it was the spitfirish guard Ronald Tubid who ignited the breakaway that finally put away the Talk N Text Phonepals 98-89. Mark Caguioa went down on leg cramps with still four minutes left on the clock but Tubid more than made up for his absence with several heads up play. Tubid got the goat of everyone, including Macmac Cardona who was ejected late in the third for kicking him in the tummy while he was still lying down. Cardona's ejection dealt a serious blow to the Phonepals' hopes of tying the series. Caguioa tallied only 15 points, his lowest in the series but Ginebra reserves Tubid, Sunday Salvacion and Billy Mamaril atoned for his lousy performance. Talk N Text led 57-47 early in the third quarter but a big Ginebra spurt led by Mamaril keyed a 28-14 run to grab the lead 75-66 at the end of the third quarter. A three-pointer by Anthony Washington midway in the final canto pushed the Phonepals to their last lead of the game 83-79. Eleven straight points by the Gin Kings led by Hatfield and Salvacion, however, broke the spirits of the Phonepals. The Gin Kings will now be making their 16th finals appearance, including eight in the All-Filipino. The Gin Kings await the winner of the San Miguel-Red Bull semifinals showdown on Wednesday.
Earlier, Johnny Abbarientos completed one steal in the game to overtake the legendary Ramon Fernandez (1,302) into the number one spot in the leagues all-time steals leader list.
Scores:
Barangay Ginebra 98 Hatfield 28, Caguioa 15, Tubid 13, Salvacion 13, Mamaril 9, Reavis 8, Helterbrand 5, Holper 4, Abarrientos 3, Macapagal 0.
Talk N Text 89 Washington 21, Alapag 19, Cardona 12, Taulava 11, Ritualo 11, Carey 5, de Ocampo Y. 5, Belano 3, Noble 2, Fran 0.
Quarterscores: 15-21, 42-48, 71-66, 98-89
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