Kings Sweep Barako With Ot Victory
Musong R. Castillo, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Monday, 28-Jul-2008
MANILA, Philippines—Facing what was supposed to be a dominated foe in a match that took a Game 7 atmosphere, Barangay Ginebra willed itself to come back from the brink of defeat and sweeten its sweep of Red Bull.
The Gin Kings rallied from six points down in the final 2:37 of regulation before making their first four shots in overtime to finally snuff the fight out of the Barako, 101-97, and reach the Smart PBA Fiesta Cup title series before close to 12,000 screaming souls at the Big Dome.
Mark Caguioa tossed in 33 markers and Chris Alexander had 13 points, 19 rebounds and a PBA career-high seven blocks in the epic contest Red Bull refused to surrender without a fight.
In fact, the Barako worked so hard to avert being the footnote in a record their coach last pulled off 16 years ago, leading 90-84 after a Cyrus Baguio basket with 2:37 left in regulation.
But the Kings came up with their vaunted finishing kick that has earned them to their adoring throng to forge the extra five minutes at 90-all.
"The outcome of the series (4-0) did not mean that it was easy for us," coach Jong Uichico, who will see action in his second title series with this team, said.
The sweep was the first such debacle for Yeng Guiao in a best-of-seven series since 1992 when he piloted Tony Harris and the Swift Mighty Meaties to a whitewash of the 7-Up Uncolas.
In the second game, Amal McCaskill scored on a turnaround jumper with 1.4 seconds remaining as Magnolia forged a 104-102 victory over Air21 to level their semifinal series at two games each.
Jay-Jay Helterbrand failed to give the Kings the win outright when he flubbed a running jumper inside the keyhole at the buzzer. But Junthy Valenzuela, Rafi Reavis, Caguioa and Paul Artadi combined to lift the Kings ahead to stay, 99-94 with 2:49 to play.
source: http://www.bhong.com/ginkings/news.php?nid=33
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