Filtered By: Sports
Sports

Ginebra turns back Coke on strong fourth quarter


MANILA, Philippines – Barangay Ginebra needed a strong finishing kick from JayJay Helterbrand to repulse a fighting Coca-Cola crew, 110-103, to barge into the win column of the Motolite-PBA Fiesta Cup at the Ynares Center Wednesday in Antipolo City. Helterbrand scored seven of the Kings’ last 11 points inside the final three minutes to seal the win for the defending champions. The national team stalwart poured in seven straight points, including a big three-pointer to spark his own scoring spree and give the Kings some breathing room, 102-98. He then added two more free throws in the final 25 second mark for a 106-101 Ginebra cushion. Helterbrand came through with 13 points, five rebounds and six assists. Prior to Helterbrand taking over the game for the Kings, the Tigers rallied back from a nine-point deficit and threatened at 98-99 on a lay up by import JayJay Sullinger. Rod Nealy was an assist short of a triple double in his second tour of duty with the league’s crowd darling, finishing with a game-high 42 points, 23 rebounds and nine assists. His two free throws with five seconds left also kept Ginebra’s perfect shooting from the foul line, when the Kings went 24-of-24 for the sixth best all-time free throw shooting. Sullinger showed the way for Coca-Cola with 28 points despite playing most of the second half in foul trouble. His barreling drive with 20 seconds left pushed the Tigers to within, 106-103. But a perfect inbound play by the Kings, which the returning Rafi Reavies converted into a two-handed slam clinched it for the champions. – GMANews.TV
LOADING CONTENT