COCA-COLA TRIPS GINEBRA IN NIGHT OF UNDERDOGS

(From PBA)

SUNDAY Salvacion got off what may arguably be the shot of the PBA Fiesta Conference.

Too bad it was not enough to prevent Coca-Cola from pulling off a 96-95 squeaker Sunday that stalled Barangay Ginebra's bid for a lofty goal at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Salvacion's last-second basket proved to be a point short of what the Kings needed, prompting a big sigh of relief from the Tigers after a thorough review by game officials.

Now, Coke made it hassle-free into the wildcard round following its improvement into a 6-9 win-loss slate.

Winning coach Bo Perasol maintains his team was just after improving its game in preparation for the playoffs.

“This is an insignificant win, because our focus is on the process to improve,” claimed Perasol, whose team needed to prevail in any of its last four games to formalize its entry into the wildcard but was placed into an uncertain situation with Barako Energy Coffee's 103-100 win over Sta. Lucia Realty earlier in the evening.

“Kasi, it will be very hard for us to think about sweeping our last four games, so we just concentrated on the process to improve, at saka na lang isipin ang wildcard,” he added.

Ginebra, on the other hand, was bidding for an outright semifinals bid hinged on it winning its last three elims games and both San Miguel Beer and B-Meg Derby Ace not getting to 13 wins.

With their seventh loss in 16 games, the Kings are left hoping they win over Air21 and B-Meg Derby Ace and San Miguel Beer, idle with an 11-4 card, does not get any more victories for the former to join early qualifier Talk N Text as automatic semifinalists.

It's not that Ginebra didn't have its chances Sunday after Asi Taulava's finger roll made it a 95-93 Coke lead, going into the last 49 seconds of play.

But Willie Miller and Mark Caguioa botched their offensive thrusts with a missed triple and an offensive foul, respectively.

After John Williamson's free throw made it a three-point game, Miller launched another trey that proved a tad strong.

Salvacion recovered the rebound, turned around and lofted in his shot. But it turned out it was a mere two-pointer.

Williamson wound up with 24 points and nine rebounds in his debut, with Gary David, Taulava and Mark Macapagal chipping in at least 11 points each. Taulava added a teamhigh 10 rebounds while Macapagal had five steals.

Caguioa paced Ginebra with 24 points, with Miller and Denham Brown making 21 and 20 points, respectively.

Brown also hauled down 16 rebounds, but he scored only eight points in the entire second half and was a non-factor offensively when Coke launched a third quarter assault that wiped out Ginebra's 59-52 lead.

Miller shone most in the fourth quarter with 11 of his points but those still did not prevent the Tigers from taking a 91-87 lead, on Paolo Mendoza's trey, still 2:43 left.

Then Caguioa strung up four straight points that tied it up at 91 and set up the tight finish.

The scores:

Coca-Cola 96 - Williamson 24, David 16, Taulava 15, Macapagal 11, Mendoza 9, Rizada 6, Allera 5, Rodriguez 4, Espino 4, Cruz 2, Gonzales 0, Antonio 0.

Ginebra 95 - Caguioa 24, Miller 21, Brown 20, de Ocampo 10, Villanueva 5, Helterbrand 5,Cortez 3, Hatfield 3, Wilson 2, Salvacion 2, intal 0, Cruz 0, Tubid 0.