Magnolia Beverage Masters Basketball Games Updates

Magnolia Beverage Masters Trounces Ginebra in a Come-From-Behind Win

Magnolia Beverage Masters Jameel Watkins proved too strong for the Barangay Ginebra Kings. Trailing by several points going into the crucial minutes of the basketball game, Watkins took over the team's offense by providing the necessary points in the shaded lane.

Barangay Ginebra's loss relegated them at the tail-end of the standings after the Welcoat Dragons won in a game earlier.

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Magnolia Beverage Masters Outsteadies Ginebra

Source: PBA.ph
April 21, 2008

The lonely place down the bottom of the chart is now solely belonged to Barangay Ginebra.

Magnolia Beverage Masters had the final say in a fierce and furious duel with Ginebra, scoring a 95-92 decision in the 2007-08 Smart PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum Sunday night.

The Kings engaged the Beverage Masters in a battle but wavered at the finish, thus staying winless in five starts in the season-ending tourney.

Coach Jong Uichico and his boys were left alone in the cellar with the Welcoat Dragons ending their long losing spell earlier in the day.

"Ginebra's record at the moment doesn't show the real strength of the team. Nagkakapaan pa sila with their new recruits but eventually, I believe, they would be a top contender," said Magnolia Beverage Masters coach Siot Tanquingcen, who had two championships won with the Kings.

"But I have to give credit to my players. They hang in there and executed. They knew what to do. Hindi na nga ako nagde-decide doon sa mga plays namin," Tanquingcen also said, lauding his players for their sterling efforts resulting to the team's third straight victory.

Magnolia Beverage Masters, getting a big lift from import Jameel Watkins and old mainstays Danny Seigle and Dondon Hontiveros, caught up with Talk n Text at fourth place at 3-2.

Watkins scored eight of his 20 points in the last three minutes of play, starring in a run that keyed a big turnaround by Magnolia Beverage Masters in the homestretch.

"Jameel showed tonight why he fits well with the team," said Tanquingcen of his import who rallied the team from an 84-89 deficit.

Watkins himself shoved Magnolia Beverage Masters ahead to stay at 94-92 on two free throws off a foul by Alex Crisano with a minute left to play.

The Kings went without a field-goal basket in the last 3:46 of play with Junthy Valenzuela muffing two attempts after the Beverage Masters surged ahead at 94-92.

After Hontiveros made it 95-92 on a charity, the Kings still had a chance to force an overtime but Sunday Salvacion missed a hurried three-point attempt with seven seconds to go.

Mike Cortez grabbed the looseball and simply dribbled away the clock.

Watkins also produced 19 big rebounds, two steals and one block in 36 minutes of play. Seigle, Lordy Tugade, Cortez and Hontiveros each added at least 10.

Ernest Brown had his shining moment.

The former NBA player rattled in seven straight points to cap an 11-to-nothing run that gave Ginebra the 91-84 spread.

But Watkins showed up Brown at the finish.

Brown and Jayjay Helterbrand paced the Kings with 18 points apiece with Mark Caguioa adding 16 and Valenzuela 10. (NC)

The Scores:

Magnolia Beverage Masters 95 - Watkins 20, Seigle 15, Tugade 12, Cortez 10, Hontiveros 10, Racela 9, Ildefosno 9, Pingris 5, Pena 3, Villanueva 2, Tolomia 0, Calaguio 0.

Ginebra Gin Kings 92 - Brown 18, Helterbrand 18, Caguioa 16, Valenzuela 10, Tubid 9, Mamaril 9, Artadi 6, Crisano 6, Salvacion 0, Pablo 0.

Quarterscores: 20-17, 42-47, 68-70, 95-92

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It's a pulsating win by the Magnolia Beverage Masters. Down in the closing minutes of the basketballgame, we are able to erase the deficit and got the lead once again on the last 1 minute. Thanks to the production of Jameel Watkins. The good thing is, Ginebra was not able to capitalize on the opportunities given to them on the dying seconds to tie-up the ballgame.

The one thing I spotted are the turnovers midway into the game that enabled Ginebra to gain the lead on their furious fastbreak attacks. I think we should minimize these on our suceeding matchups with other teams to give us a higher chances of winning.