Menk humbles Asi as Kings stay in race

Fil-Am Eric Menk showed why he is called Major Pain as he powered crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra to an emphatic 99-82 victory over Talk N’ Text yesterday to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive in the Samsung PBA All-Filipino Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Menk was the Kings’ source of strength as he erupted for 30 points, sparking two decisive spurts in the second and fourth quarters that quelled every rally by the Phone Pals.

More than Menk’s offense, it was his defense on Paul Asi Taulava that spelled the difference.

He held the Fil-Tongan to just 16 points and zero fieldgoal in the fourth quarter that was enough to seal Barangay Ginebra’s fifth win against 11 losses with a chance of still making it into the next round.

But Menk was quick to downplay his performance.

"I had a lot of help in this game. I can’t stop him one-on-one, it’s really our double-teaming that got him," said Menk.

Estong Ballesteros, playing only his third game as a King, also made a big impact as he chipped in 15 points, including 12 from behind the three-point arc in a game that drew praises from Barangay Ginebra coach Allan Caidic.

"It’s really a gamble because our weakness is really the No. 3 (small forward) spot and Estong is not yet 100-percent in form, iika-ika pa nga siya ng kaunti kanina eh," said Caidic. "But he (Ballesteros) stepped up really big today."

In the other game, Chris Calaguio exploded with 27 points including a triple with 9.6 seconds remaining as Shell downed Sta. Lucia Realty, 78-73, for its fifth win against 10 defeats.

After the game, Realtors coach Alfrancis Chua pointed finger and threw invectives at referee Luisito "Boy" Cruz after complaining that Kenneth was fouled by Tony dela Cruz while attempting a triple with seconds to go.

It was the Realtors’ eighth loss against the same number of wins.