Ginebra streches win streak to five

Eric Menk displayed another brilliant performance in powering the Barangay Ginebra Kings to their fifth straight victory via a 93-83 thrashing of Air 21 Express in yesterday's 2005 PBA San Mig Coffee Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Kings, who are now 4-0 after Menk's return, now improved their win-loss record to 6-3. Their five-game winning run is the longest so far by any team this season.

Menk finished with 17 points on top of 17 rebounds, while Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand were also having their shares in the offense by cashing in double figures.

Except in the fourth period when the Express threatened to grab the lead behind a John Ferriols-led rally, the Kings led all the way despite being held off to only 18 points in the third perid.

They led by as many as 18 points in the third period, 68-50, but the Express did not lose hope when Ferriols, together with Renren Ritualo and Ronald Tubid, staged a rally to pull Air21 within, 83-91.

The rally, which the Express failed to sutain, was aided by the back-to-back technical fouls slapped on Ginbera- first against coach Siot Tanquincen for excessive complaining and the second against Rommel Adducul for contesting the referee's call.

But Air21 couldn't capitalized on the opportunity as the Gin Kings played tough down the stretch.

It was a wasted opportunity for the former Cebu-based cager John Ferriols, who scored a new Conference-high 22 points.

The Express, who loves to run on transition, were not scoring well from fastbreaks because they fielded in Roanld Tubid, Wynnne Arboleda and Niño Cañaleta too late. Worse, Ritualo was not also shooting well from the field except for that big triple late in the fourth period that put them down by eight, 81-89.