yanpacs's video: Ginebra vs Alaska 12 13 08 Part9

KINGS START KILLER 4-GAME FINAL STRETCH ON HIGH NOTE Menk paces Barangay Ginebra in road game win over skidding Alaska CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY. Eric Menk vented his ire on the entire Alaska Milk team after having a heated verbal tussle with Aces coach Tim Cone late in the first half. Menk churned out a double-double performance his third in the conference but first in almost a month -- including the go-ahead basket in the waning seconds as Barangay Ginebra pulled off a 84-82 squeaker over Alaska to muddle up the positioning for the Magic Five in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup elimination round at the Xavier University gym here Saturday night. The 6-foot-6 2004-05 season MVP came through with 17 points, 11 rebounds and one block, leading the Kings to the decisive road game win that kept them in contention for an outright semifinal berth in the playoff phase. It also enabled the crowd-favorites to start their tough last-four-game schedule on a high note. Barangay Ginebra has the top four teams in the standings for their last four games in the eliminations. Getting even with the Aces who dealt them an 84-93 loss in their previous tiff, the Kings gained crucial ground in the team standings, jumping past the Air21 Express (8-8) and the Sta. Lucia Realtors (8-8) to seize solo fifth place at 8-7. With back-to-back defeats, the Aces are now holding a precarious half-game lead over the second-running Talk N Text Tropang Texters at 9-6 with the San Miguel Beermen and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters also not far away both at 9-7. "This is a big win for us, but we cannot celebrate yet," said Barangay Ginebra head coach Jong Uichico. "We still have three games to go and we know we have to win them all to gain an outright quarterfinals slot," he added, referring to the reward given to a top five finisher. After the Aces, the Kings go up against Talk N Text on Wednesday at the Big Dome, get back on the road again in Batangas City to face the Beermen on Saturday before winding up the eliminations with a Christmas Day battle against Rain or Shine at the Araneta Coliseum. The Aces had the game under control until a series of errors allowed the Kings to get back to life, taking the lead to stay at 83-82 on a tip-in by Menk after a missed lay-up by Jayjay Helterbrand with 24 seconds left to play. Willie Miller, who scored 20 points, counting four treys, took matters into his hands in the ensuing play but flubbed a twisting lay-up off Menk. Helterbrand, back from a three-game absence because of a groin injury, was quickly fouled by an Alaska defender in the transition play and split his charities to make it 84-82 with time down to 10 seconds. After a timeout, the Aces eventually yielded the game on a bad throw-in by Joe Devance which was deflected by Rafi Reavis leading to a steal by Helterbrand. Menk had figured in a verbal altercation with Cone in the first half after Jeffrey Cariaso was called for a flagrant foul on Paul Artadi. The Tropang Texters have a chance to catch up with the Aces as they take on the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants at the resumption of play at the Araneta Coliseum Sunday. Talk N Text is now the hottest team in the tourney, setting out for the game riding the crest of a four-game romp. The Coca-Cola Tigers look for an outright playoff berth for the last slot in the wildcard round as they tangle with the Sta. Lucia Realtors in the other game. (NC) The scores: Barangay Ginebra 84 Menk 17, Artadi 16, Tubid 10, Helterbrand 9, Mamaril 9, Pacana 8, Salvacion 7, Reavis 6, Wilson 2, Cabatu 0, Escalona 0, Crisano 0. Alaska 82 Miller 20, Hugnatan 14, Thoss 14, Cariaso 11, Tenorio 11, Devance 9, Fonacier 3, Sotto 0, Dela Cruz 0, Ferriols 0. Quarterscores: 18-24; 36-40; 67-66; 84-82.