PBA Cup: Ginebra drubs Smart Gilas in a squeaker

Home → Breaking News

PBA Cup: Ginebra drubs Smart Gilas in a squeaker

By Celest Flores
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 22:33:00 04/15/2011

Filed Under: Basketball, Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)

MANILA, Philippines — Import Nate Brumfield bullied and spun his way across defenders as Ginebra squeaked past Smart Gilas Pilipinas, 97-96, Friday in thrilling Game 1 of the best-of-five semifinals series of the 2011 PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

Back in the saddle after a miserable previous game, Brumfield punched in Ginebra's last five points and proved to be a vital cog in defense as he collected 31 points and 13 rebounds.

Down by two with a minute left, Ginebra turned to Brumfield who scored on a spin with 44.3 seconds then completed an and-one play with 18.3 left to give the Kings a 1-0 advantage in the series.

Locals Mark Caguiao and Rudy Hatfield backed the import's numbers with 16 and 13 points, respectively.

Willie Miller’s missing two free throws with 4.4 ticks left came as a blessing in disguise for Ginebra when six-foot-ten Marcus Douthit, naturalized reinforcement of the Nationals, failed to secure the rebound as the time ran out.

Douthit, with his right hand heavily wrapped due to a wrist fracture, also split a potential game-tying charities with 5.5 seconds.

A game of spurts, the Nationals were even leading 87-80 with five minutes to play before the Kings went on an 8-1 roll to tie the game capped off by Brumfield breakaway lay-in off a steal by Ronald Tubid.

The game was reduced to game of deuce as the two squad exchanged baskets in the last two minutes of the game.

Douthit finished 31 points on a losing cause while usual offensive options Marcio Lassiter, JVee Casio and Chris Tiu were all limited to six, three and 13 markers.

Smart Gilas, an outright semi-finalist, along with Talk N Text, which lost earlier, was coming off a two-week layoff.