Win pulls Kings out of cellar

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Mark Caguioa scored a conference-high 39 points on top of five rebounds, and Barangay Ginebra held off an Air21 endgame charge to pull off a 97-92 victory in a Smart PBA Fiesta Conference road showcase at the Zamboanga City Coliseum here last night.

The Express, who played catch-up basketball almost throughout, came within a point at 90-91 on a booming three-pointer by Wynne Arboleda with a little over two minutes left to play.

But Ranidel de Ocampo drew an offensive foul then missed a three-point attempt in their next ball possessions, giving the Kings an opportunity to  regain control and subsequently notch their third win in their last four outings.

Ginebra foiled Air21’s bid for a four-way tie for the lead with Talk n Text, Red Bull and Coca-Cola in the game presented by Hanes.

The Express instead slid to fifth place at 6-5 while the Kings (3-7) moved out of the cellar, taking over ninth place from the slumping Welcoat Dragons (3-8).

The TnT Pals go for the solo lead as they slug it out with the Alaska Milk Aces over at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay today.

Philippine Cup titlist Sta. Lucia, which is a half-game behind the pacesetters at 6-4, is out to enhance its back-to-back championship bid as it takes on Purefoods in the day’s other game.

Caguioa, who has just made a vow that Ginebra would rise from the cellar and contend for the crown, went to work early, scattering 21 points in the first half which ended in favor of the Kings at 49-43.

He added 18 more in the second half to finish with the best output by any local player in the import-laced tourney thus far.

Ronald Tubid contributed 16 points coming off the bench. The other Ginebra starters in Chris Alexander, Jayjay Helterbrand, Junthy Valenzuela and Billy Mamaril combined for 37.

Mamaril chipped in only five but had a defensive gem on De Ocampo entering the last two minutes of play, paving the way for a crucial basket by Valenzuela that made it 93-90 for the Kings.

Caguioa went scoreless in the last two minutes, missing what could have been a fifth career 40-point performance.