Magnolia Beverage Masters Basketball Games Updates

Chris Alexander Dominates As Ginebra Forces A Knockout Game 7

With Steven Thomas hubbled by foul trouble in the early goings and eventually fouling out mid of fourth quarter, Chris Alexander showed his dominance in the paint as the Barangay Ginebra Kings forces a knockout Game 7 on Wednesday by defeating the Air21 Express 80-75 in Game 6 of the 2008 PBA Fiesta Conference Finals.

Chris Alexander finished the game with 37 points and 24 rebounds as he sets a new career record on his PBA stint as Barangay Ginebra import.

Air21 started out strong with a 14-0 blast but were unable to sustain the lead going into the fourth quarter due to foul troubles of their key players. After Steven Thomas' exit, the Air21 Express displayed their inexperience in getting back in the game by playing one-on-one, shooting ill-advised three point shots, and looked confused in setting up plays.

--------------------

INJURY-HOBBLED GINEBRA LIVES TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY
Alexander explodes for 37 points, 24 rebounds as Kings force Game 7


Source: Philippine Basketball Association
Sunday, August 17, 2008

Barangay Ginebra, walking wounded, leaned on sheer heart to fashion out a stirring come-from-behind 80-75 win over Airr21 Sunday night to force a deciding Game 7 in their 2008 Smart PBA Fiesta Conference basketball title showdown.

Chris Alexander had his PBA career-best performance, keying a decisive Ginebra turnaround in the third quarter that led to the victory cheered on by the predominant Kings basketball supporters at the overflowing Araneta Coliseum.

Alexander scored 20 of his 37 points in the third period as the Kings made an 18-point swing from a 38-50 count and went on to foil the Express' first crack at wrapping up the best-of-seven basketball series.

The two teams instead fight for all the marbles Wednesday also at the Big Dome.

"(The boys) just lived up to the spirit of Barangay Ginebra – never say die, keep the energy, keep the spirit. We had no other recourse since it's a knockout gamme for us. Something good came out of it," said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

"It has nothing to do with the Xs and Os. It's sheer heart," Uichico added.

Airr21 coach Bo Perasol took his hat off to the Kings for their Game 6 effort but he remained confident they would win the basketball series in the end.

"Imagine, we lost Steven Thomas (on fouls) with over five minutes left to play and we're beaten by only five. That says a lot na kaya namin manalo," said Perasol.

"The boys were sad with the loss but they themselves remained confident we can pull it off. Gamme 7 is all or nothing. Patibayan ito ng puso," Perasol added.

Alexander went on the attack in the third quarter with Thomas already in foul trouble, and the Kings swayed the tide in their favor at 61-55 on a 23-5 onslaught.

They never looked back from there, winning the basketball contest that drew an all-time ticket sales record of P2.5 million.

The Exprress jumped the gun on the Kings but later reeled on fouls to key basketball players.

On the trail from the start, the Kings had their first taste of the lead at 56-55 on a semi-hook by Alexander with 55 ticks left in the third period.

Tension ran high early in the contest with two flagrant fouls and a technical infraction called in the first half ending in Airr21's favor at 37-34.

Alex Crisano started it all with a hard foul on Thomas, who piled up big numbers right in the opening quarter with nine points and eight rebounds, giving the Exprress a 27-15 lead going into the second period.

The Exprress were still in control when Mark Caguioa and Junthy Valenzuela were whistled a flagrant foul and a technical foul on Arwind Santos and Ranidel de Ocampo, respectively. A little later, KG Canaleta also threw a flagrant foul on former UE teammate Paul Artadi.

Airr21 scored all of the gamme's first 14 points as Ginebra got off to a fumbling start, going 0-of-6 from the field and committing three turnovers in the first five minutes of the basketball contest.

The Kings fell behind by 16 at 17-33 before picking up their basketball gamme working on a decisive run to come within three at the turn.

Ginebra hit at a 47.4 percent shooting against Airr21's 20-percent clip in the second period to get back into the basketball gamme going into the final half. (NC)

The scores:

Ginebra 80 – Alexander 37, Menk 10, Tubid 9, Pacana 6, Valenzuela 5, Caguioa 5, Artadi 4, Salvacion 2, Crisano 2, Reavis 0.

Airr21 75 – Thomas 20, De Ocampo 16, Santos 10, David 10, Canaleta 7, Arboleda 4, Billones 3, Cruz 2, Se 2, Intal 1, Kramer 0.

Quarterscores: 15-27, 34-37, 61-55, 80-75.