Friday, June 16, 2006
Ginebra vs. Red Bull Game 4 Notes
Taking a break from work and armed with lower box tickets, Virgil and I trooped to Araneta Coliseum for Game 4 of the ongoing quarterfinal round between Ginebra and Red Bull.
The game was so horrible, I could only come up with the following case points:
Case Point #1: Red Bull's Big "D"
From an 11-12 Red Bull lead by the time we arrived at the Big Dome, the lead bled up to 10... 20... and even for God's sake 30! Red Bull has finally put on the clamps on the receipients of the best players of the week Mark Macapagal and Eric Menk, who prior to the game were averaging 21 points and 28.5 points in the Gin Kings' back-to-back wins. By the end of the 1st half, Macapagal and Eric Menk had three points each. By the end of the third quarter, each had 10 points but stopped producing in the fourth. Eric Menk had 12 points, Mark Macapagal with 10 still. Aside from that, Red Bull's back-court press forced Ginebra into a lot of horrific turnovers, which the Bulls converted into baskets to pad up their lead. :( The Kings couldn't even pass the ball to Eric Menk at the post.
Case Point #2: Ginebra's horrific shooting
Allan Salangsang, is 0 out of 8 from three point land. Macapagal is 1 out 7 from beyond the arc, and 1 of 3 from the two-point area. Eric Menk was horrible also with 3 out of 11 baskets made. In fact, Eric Menk played so horrible that he had to be benched in favor of a faster Ginebra line-up with Mike Holper manning the paint. Mark Caguioa, once a consistent free throw shooter, missed 3 out of his 8 attempts. In the end, Ginebra was 17% from the three point distance, and 47.6% from two points, resulting into 38% field goal percentage on 35 out of 92 attempts. Ugh. Ginebra's bench contributed only 27 points. Trigger-happy Mark Caguioa tried to rally the Kings with his 39 points, but was eventually benched when the 25+ lead couldn't be brought down midway the fourth quarter.
Case Point #3: Red Bull's awesome field goal shooting
6 Bulls in double figures (you may add Rich Alvarez if you round off his 9 point production to 10). Mike Hrabak, Mick Pennisi, and Rich Alvarez firing treys. Topex Robinson hitting his jumpshots (aside from grabbing 4 offensive boards). Lordy Tugade scoring like his usual self (with a poker face after each basket made). Junthy Valenzuela hitting his fade-away shots. Ugh. 40 out 81 shots made, producing a 49.4% field goal percentage. (Larry was shooting airballs though! yay!) Leo Najorda scoring on perimeter shots. Enrico Villanueva making his free throws (9 out of 10!). Cyrus Baguio making his first baskets in the first quarter. WTF. All 12 Red Bull players fielded in produced points. WTF. WTF. WTF. Ginebra was just practically trading baskets with Red Bull as they couldn't defend Red Bull's field goal shooting.
Case Point #4: Bench
83 points scored by the Red Bull bench against 28 by the Ginebra bench??! WTF. Hmm... I wouldn't be surprised though, because Ginebra's scoring load is REALLY concentrated on their starters, and Red Bull's line up is so flexible, any player can be inserted at the starting line-up any time. Caguioa was fielded in almost the entire first half and played 43 minutes. Macapagal played 35, Menk played 33, Ferreria with 31, Holper with 29. Ginebra only fielded in 8 players (it was a surprise Manny Ramos didn't play), with Sunday Salvacion playing in pain. As contrast to Red Bull who fielded in all their 12 players, each played at least 20 minutes. The effect of the injuries on the key Ginebra players are finally kicking in. :( Sadly, we didn't see bench players Salangsang, Salvacion, Sotto, and Echavez stepping up (I have to note that at least one of the bench players in Ginebra plays big). This is really getting depressing. The bench will definitely play a role in game 5 tomorrow.
Case Point #5: Ginebra has won all Game 5 games and knock-out matches except twice since the 2004 season.
With the series tied at 1 apiece, Ginebra won its semi-final match against Talk 'n Text back in the Fiesta Conference in 2004. Tied at 2-2, Ginebra won game 5 against San Miguel in the Philippine Cup back in January 28, 2005. Also, tied at 2-2 in the best of 7 finals against Talk 'n Text back in February 9, 2005, Ginebra scored a victory in double overtime. In this year's Philippine Cup, Ginebra clawed their way back in order to defeat Air21 Express in that knock-out wild-card round.
They lost however, two important knock-out matches against ironically, Red Bull. Red Bull, armed with a twice to beat advantage, clawed their way from a 24 lead by Ginebra to win by one, 89-90 back in June 11, 2005. Red Bull likewise killed Ginebra back in Game 7 in February 5, 2006. Ugh, painful losses still in my head.
They have to f*ckingly beat Red Bull.
Case Point #6: Never-say-die spirit coming back
Losing Eric Menk to injury, the undermanned Ginebra squad defeated a revamped Talk 'n Text squad back in May 12, 2006. Without Jayjay Helterbrand, Ginebra won against Air21 in that knock-out wildcard round. They're clearly the underdogs this time, but Mark Telan has something fitting to say about Ginebra.
"Ginebra yan pare, walang disadvantage-disadvantage diyan."
Case Point #7: Keys to Ginebra win on Game 5
The trio of Caguioa, Macapagal, and Menk have to deliver the goods. If the defense will be concentrated on them, at least one or two bench players HAVE TO step-up. Aldric musn't watch the game live. The curse of the Ynares Center shouldn't be there! please oh please oh please.
As for defending Red Bull... err... I'm just praying Red Bull would lose their touch from the field. Play good defense on Red Bull's perimeter shooters, and get Villaueva in foul trouble!
That's it. I'll sleep now and watch the game this evening [darnit, I wasn't allowed to take a vacation leave for this day].
Pagbigyan nyo na ako... paminsan-minsan lang ito... gumaan ang naghihingalong pusooooo...
***
G: kumampi ka sa Ginebra, bertdey ni Caidic kahapon!
The game was so horrible, I could only come up with the following case points:
Case Point #1: Red Bull's Big "D"
From an 11-12 Red Bull lead by the time we arrived at the Big Dome, the lead bled up to 10... 20... and even for God's sake 30! Red Bull has finally put on the clamps on the receipients of the best players of the week Mark Macapagal and Eric Menk, who prior to the game were averaging 21 points and 28.5 points in the Gin Kings' back-to-back wins. By the end of the 1st half, Macapagal and Eric Menk had three points each. By the end of the third quarter, each had 10 points but stopped producing in the fourth. Eric Menk had 12 points, Mark Macapagal with 10 still. Aside from that, Red Bull's back-court press forced Ginebra into a lot of horrific turnovers, which the Bulls converted into baskets to pad up their lead. :( The Kings couldn't even pass the ball to Eric Menk at the post.
Case Point #2: Ginebra's horrific shooting
Allan Salangsang, is 0 out of 8 from three point land. Macapagal is 1 out 7 from beyond the arc, and 1 of 3 from the two-point area. Eric Menk was horrible also with 3 out of 11 baskets made. In fact, Eric Menk played so horrible that he had to be benched in favor of a faster Ginebra line-up with Mike Holper manning the paint. Mark Caguioa, once a consistent free throw shooter, missed 3 out of his 8 attempts. In the end, Ginebra was 17% from the three point distance, and 47.6% from two points, resulting into 38% field goal percentage on 35 out of 92 attempts. Ugh. Ginebra's bench contributed only 27 points. Trigger-happy Mark Caguioa tried to rally the Kings with his 39 points, but was eventually benched when the 25+ lead couldn't be brought down midway the fourth quarter.
Case Point #3: Red Bull's awesome field goal shooting
6 Bulls in double figures (you may add Rich Alvarez if you round off his 9 point production to 10). Mike Hrabak, Mick Pennisi, and Rich Alvarez firing treys. Topex Robinson hitting his jumpshots (aside from grabbing 4 offensive boards). Lordy Tugade scoring like his usual self (with a poker face after each basket made). Junthy Valenzuela hitting his fade-away shots. Ugh. 40 out 81 shots made, producing a 49.4% field goal percentage. (Larry was shooting airballs though! yay!) Leo Najorda scoring on perimeter shots. Enrico Villanueva making his free throws (9 out of 10!). Cyrus Baguio making his first baskets in the first quarter. WTF. All 12 Red Bull players fielded in produced points. WTF. WTF. WTF. Ginebra was just practically trading baskets with Red Bull as they couldn't defend Red Bull's field goal shooting.
Case Point #4: Bench
83 points scored by the Red Bull bench against 28 by the Ginebra bench??! WTF. Hmm... I wouldn't be surprised though, because Ginebra's scoring load is REALLY concentrated on their starters, and Red Bull's line up is so flexible, any player can be inserted at the starting line-up any time. Caguioa was fielded in almost the entire first half and played 43 minutes. Macapagal played 35, Menk played 33, Ferreria with 31, Holper with 29. Ginebra only fielded in 8 players (it was a surprise Manny Ramos didn't play), with Sunday Salvacion playing in pain. As contrast to Red Bull who fielded in all their 12 players, each played at least 20 minutes. The effect of the injuries on the key Ginebra players are finally kicking in. :( Sadly, we didn't see bench players Salangsang, Salvacion, Sotto, and Echavez stepping up (I have to note that at least one of the bench players in Ginebra plays big). This is really getting depressing. The bench will definitely play a role in game 5 tomorrow.
Case Point #5: Ginebra has won all Game 5 games and knock-out matches except twice since the 2004 season.
With the series tied at 1 apiece, Ginebra won its semi-final match against Talk 'n Text back in the Fiesta Conference in 2004. Tied at 2-2, Ginebra won game 5 against San Miguel in the Philippine Cup back in January 28, 2005. Also, tied at 2-2 in the best of 7 finals against Talk 'n Text back in February 9, 2005, Ginebra scored a victory in double overtime. In this year's Philippine Cup, Ginebra clawed their way back in order to defeat Air21 Express in that knock-out wild-card round.
They lost however, two important knock-out matches against ironically, Red Bull. Red Bull, armed with a twice to beat advantage, clawed their way from a 24 lead by Ginebra to win by one, 89-90 back in June 11, 2005. Red Bull likewise killed Ginebra back in Game 7 in February 5, 2006. Ugh, painful losses still in my head.
They have to f*ckingly beat Red Bull.
Case Point #6: Never-say-die spirit coming back
Losing Eric Menk to injury, the undermanned Ginebra squad defeated a revamped Talk 'n Text squad back in May 12, 2006. Without Jayjay Helterbrand, Ginebra won against Air21 in that knock-out wildcard round. They're clearly the underdogs this time, but Mark Telan has something fitting to say about Ginebra.
"Ginebra yan pare, walang disadvantage-disadvantage diyan."
Case Point #7: Keys to Ginebra win on Game 5
The trio of Caguioa, Macapagal, and Menk have to deliver the goods. If the defense will be concentrated on them, at least one or two bench players HAVE TO step-up. Aldric musn't watch the game live. The curse of the Ynares Center shouldn't be there! please oh please oh please.
As for defending Red Bull... err... I'm just praying Red Bull would lose their touch from the field. Play good defense on Red Bull's perimeter shooters, and get Villaueva in foul trouble!
That's it. I'll sleep now and watch the game this evening [darnit, I wasn't allowed to take a vacation leave for this day].
Pagbigyan nyo na ako... paminsan-minsan lang ito... gumaan ang naghihingalong pusooooo...
***
G: kumampi ka sa Ginebra, bertdey ni Caidic kahapon!
Comments
Pare, like I said in a comment on your blog, the Gin Kings should consider trading some of their injury-prone players... they seem to always get health-problems at the most crucial of points.
Post a Comment
<< Home
