KINGS EQUALIZE

source: pba

Import Nate Brumfield churned out a near triple-double game and rookie John Wilson dished out acareer-best showing as Barangay Ginebra stopped Talk n Text’s amazing romp and forged a 1-1
deadlock in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven title showdown.

Brumfield and Wilson provided the Kings tremendous boost as they beat out the Texters, 108-106, in a
furious battle Friday after a blowout loss in the series opener two nights ago.

Cheered on by their huge throngs at the Cuneta Astrodome, the Kings made a key push entering the
homestretch and pulled through with the Texters unable to complete their endgame rally.

Talk n Text, which won Game One at 102-83, eventually yielded Game Two with Jimmy Alapag missing a
make-or-break three-point try in the dying seconds.

The Kings foiled the Texters’ attempt to make history and put life on their own aspiration.

Suffering a first loss since a 98-103 defeat at the hands of Smart Gilas on Feb. 25, the Texters
missed a chance to become the first team in PBA history to have two streaks of at least 13 wins in a
row.

“We won by the skin of our teeth but it’s big,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

“It’s a big because it’s hard to be down 0-2 especially against Talk n Text. They just can
pound you on every single play,” Uichico added. “We know that won’t change. They will keep on
pounding and pounding and pounding us on both ends, and we have to be ready.”

“I questioned a foul called on us (towards the end of the game) but that’s not the reason why we
lost the game. We lost because Ginebra outhustled and outplayed us,” said Talk n Text coach Chot
Reyes.

Reyes mentioned Jimmy Alapag’s woeful 1-of-11 three-point shooting and Paul Harris’ seven
errors.

“Jimmy Alapag was nowhere to be found. He had three big mistakes and Paul Harris had two down the
stretch. Two less mistakes and we could have won the game,” rued Reyes.

And the veteran Talk n Text mentor took his hats off to Wilson.

“We couldn’t stop John Wilson. He made Paul Harris to look like an amateur. Basically, the story
of the game was John Wilson outplaying Harris,” said Reyes.

Brumfield bounced back strong from a 10-point showing the last time out, piling up 27 points, 15
rebounds and eight assists while Wilson chipped in a career-best 16 points that went with three
rebounds and two assists.

Both had a hand as the Kings built a decisive 108-101 cushion before going scoreless in the final
minute.

As the Kings tapered off, the Texters mounted one final charge but came up short in the end.

The Texters’ 12-game streak came to an end with a three-point shot by Alapag falling way short.

Harris banged away 24 points but only one in the final period.

Alapag, on the other hand, scored 13 of his 17 in the fourth quarter but missed the shots that
mattered more.

Wilson, a PBA rookie who opted to waive his final year of eligibility in the NCAA, fired 16 points,
including a three-point play in a nine-to-nothing run that pushed Ginebra upfront at 108-101.

Talk n Text team manager Aboy Castro and Ronald Tubid traded barbs late in the third period after
the Ginebra forward gave Alapag a hard foul.

The proverbial coolers head intervened, and the Texters roared 80-76 upfront going to the final
period.

With huge help from their reserves, the Kings waged a fiery rally in the second quarter and surged
ahead, 47-46, at the half.

Rob Labagala and Eric Menk had their moments helping the Kings in a turnaround from a 15-point
deficit in the second period.

The Texters established early double-digit spreads while converting 57 percent of their shots in the
opening canto.

Harris put in double-digit output right in the first quarter with Ryan Reyes and Jason Castro
combining for a 3-of-4 three-point shooting.

The three outscored the entire Ginebra team, 30-15, in the first 12 minutes of play, but the Kings
turned things around in the next quarter, cashing heavily on hustle plays. (SB)

The scores:

Ginebra 108 - Brumfield 27, Wilson J. 16, Menk 15, Cortez 14, Labagala 10, Caguioa 9, Hatfield 8,
Miller 4, Wilson W. 3, Tubid 2.

Talk N' Text 106 - Harris 24, Alapag 17, De Ocampo 16, Carey 13, Castro 11, Williams 9, Reyes 7,
Fonacier 7, Peek 2, Yee 0, Aban 0.

Quarters: 15-30, 47-46, 76-80, 108-106Import Nate Brumfield churned out a near triple-double game
and rookie John Wilson dished out a career-best showing as Barangay Ginebra stopped Talk n Text’s
amazing romp and forged a 1-1 deadlock in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven title
showdown.

Brumfield and Wilson provided the Kings tremendous boost as they beat out the Texters, 108-106, in a
furious battle Friday after a blowout loss in the series opener two nights ago.

Cheered on by their huge throngs at the Cuneta Astrodome, the Kings made a key push entering the
homestretch and pulled through with the Texters unable to complete their endgame rally.

Talk n Text, which won Game One at 102-83, eventually yielded Game Two with Jimmy Alapag missing a
make-or-break three-point try in the dying seconds.

The Kings foiled the Texters’ attempt to make history and put life on their own aspiration.

Suffering a first loss since a 98-103 defeat at the hands of Smart Gilas on Feb. 25, the Texters
missed a chance to become the first team in PBA history to have two streaks of at least 13 wins in a
row.

“We won by the skin of our teeth but it’s big,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

“It’s a big because it’s hard to be down 0-2 especially against Talk n Text. They just can
pound you on every single play,” Uichico added. “We know that won’t change. They will keep on
pounding and pounding and pounding us on both ends, and we have to be ready.”

“I questioned a foul called on us (towards the end of the game) but that’s not the reason why we
lost the game. We lost because Ginebra outhustled and outplayed us,” said Talk n Text coach Chot
Reyes.

Reyes mentioned Jimmy Alapag’s woeful 1-of-11 three-point shooting and Paul Harris’ seven
errors.

“Jimmy Alapag was nowhere to be found. He had three big mistakes and Paul Harris had two down the
stretch. Two less mistakes and we could have won the game,” rued Reyes.

And the veteran Talk n Text mentor took his hats off to Wilson.

“We couldn’t stop John Wilson. He made Paul Harris to look like an amateur. Basically, the story
of the game was John Wilson outplaying Harris,” said Reyes.

Brumfield bounced back strong from a 10-point showing the last time out, piling up 27 points, 15
rebounds and eight assists while Wilson chipped in a career-best 16 points that went with three
rebounds and two assists.

Both had a hand as the Kings built a decisive 108-101 cushion before going scoreless in the final
minute.

As the Kings tapered off, the Texters mounted one final charge but came up short in the end.

The Texters’ 12-game streak came to an end with a three-point shot by Alapag falling way short.

Harris banged away 24 points but only one in the final period.

Alapag, on the other hand, scored 13 of his 17 in the fourth quarter but missed the shots that
mattered more.

Wilson, a PBA rookie who opted to waive his final year of eligibility in the NCAA, fired 16 points,
including a three-point play in a nine-to-nothing run that pushed Ginebra upfront at 108-101.

Talk n Text team manager Aboy Castro and Ronald Tubid traded barbs late in the third period after
the Ginebra forward gave Alapag a hard foul.

The proverbial coolers head intervened, and the Texters roared 80-76 upfront going to the final
period.

With huge help from their reserves, the Kings waged a fiery rally in the second quarter and surged
ahead, 47-46, at the half.

Rob Labagala and Eric Menk had their moments helping the Kings in a turnaround from a 15-point
deficit in the second period.

The Texters established early double-digit spreads while converting 57 percent of their shots in the
opening canto.

Harris put in double-digit output right in the first quarter with Ryan Reyes and Jason Castro
combining for a 3-of-4 three-point shooting.

The three outscored the entire Ginebra team, 30-15, in the first 12 minutes of play, but the Kings
turned things around in the next quarter, cashing heavily on hustle plays. (SB)

The scores:

Ginebra 108 - Brumfield 27, Wilson J. 16, Menk 15, Cortez 14, Labagala 10, Caguioa 9, Hatfield 8,
Miller 4, Wilson W. 3, Tubid 2.

Talk N' Text 106 - Harris 24, Alapag 17, De Ocampo 16, Carey 13, Castro 11, Williams 9, Reyes 7,
Fonacier 7, Peek 2, Yee 0, Aban 0.

Quarters: 15-30, 47-46, 76-80, 108-106

source: pba