Ginebra survives Red Bull comeback in Philippine Cup

MANILA, Philippines – Ronald Tubid and Junthy Valenzuela buried key baskets down the stretch to lead Ginebra to an 83-76 win over Red Bull in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum. Tubid and Valenzuela teamed up for Ginebra in the final four minutes of the game to secure the Kings’ fourth straight win that upped their record to 7-6 and join idle Talk 'N Text from fourth to fifth places behind the 8-6 slates of San Miguel and Rain or Shine, and the 9-4 mark of league-leader Alaska. The Barakos dropped further at the cellar losing their sixth straight game for a 3-10 card. The Kings proved to be the steadier team and never blinked even when the Barakos tried to rally from 17-points down. Red Bull went on an 8-0 run to threaten at 73-70 with 4:52 left in the game clock but that was the closest that they could get. Junjun Cabatu buried a jumper at the other end to end that Red Bull rally and Ginebra watched as the Barakos self destruct in the final three minutes missing crucial and committing turnovers that cost them the game. Tubid and Valenzuela then worked their magic in that stretch draining back-to-back shots from downtown to keep Red Bull at bay. Tubid’s last three-pointer gave Ginebra an 83-72 spread time down to 1:10. Tubid paced Ginebra with 15 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and had three assists while Valenzuela added 12 markers, five rebounds and one steal. Sunday Salvacion, after erupting for 21 points in Ginebra’s 84-77 win over Coca-Cola last week, had a quiet 15 points behind a 3-of-14 shooting beyond the arc. Paul Artadi added 10 points, four rebounds, six assists and four steals. Cyrus Baguio led Red Bull with 16 points, three rebounds, one steal and blocked two shots while contributed 11 more. Ginebra had a slow start and started pulling away in the second quarter when Tubid and Valenzuela finally found their rhythm. – GMANews.TV