Kings refuse to yield, force deciding match

MANILA, Philippines - Vernon Macklin unloaded big baskets coming off the bench, and Barangay Ginebra survived a third do-or-die game in the playoffs, outlasting Talk n Text, 104-101, in a furious battle to force a deciding Game Five in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals showdown last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

After a forced three-minute sit-down due to a flagrant infraction on Ranidel De Ocampo late in the third, Macklin came back to score one clutch basket after another, negating Tony Mitchell’s  45-point explosion as the Kings sent the best-of-five series to the full distance.

The Gin Kings and the Tropang Texters face off in a sudden death at 6:15 p.m. tomorrow also at the Big Dome.

“Our backs were again against the wall and the guys didn’t quit. You really can’t ask anything more from them,” said coach Alfrancis Chua, whose team survived a third knockout game after wiping out Rain or Shine’s twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

“Sinaktan nila kami with cheap shots, at ayun nabuhay ang mga bata (They hurt us with cheap shots, and our guys came back to life),” Chua also said, citing in particular a blow on Macklin, prompting the import to retaliate for a flagrant foul.

“Vernon told us ‘they can’t hit my nut,’” said Chua. “Hopefully, the refs see the cheap shots. We play hard but we don’t give those kind of fouls which put the career of players at risk.”

Macklin made 13 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter, including a breakaway slam and a post basket, pushing Ginebra ahead at 101-99 with 54.4 seconds to go.

Mitchell followed up his 29-point PBA debut with 45 but missed five crucial attempts at the finish.

After Mitchell’s last muffed shots, the Texters were forced to give up a foul on LA Tenorio who knocked in both charities to seal the win at 103-99 with 14.3 ticks left.

The Kings had an explosive first half only to blow away a 12-point lead as Macklin sat down precious minutes after his flagrant foul on De Ocampo.

The Texters pulled even at the end of the third and raced ahead, 94-90 midway through the fourth.

But the never-say-die team that they are, the Kings won’t give up.

Hitting at a 51.2-percent clip, Ginebra registered a new season high for a half (65 points), breaking the previous best of 64 set by Meralco in a game versus Barako Bull during the elims.