Gins in high spirits

URDANETA, Pangasinan – Barangay Ginebra, with ace forward Vergel Meneses playing the fireman’s role in the fourth quarter, held off Tanduay Rhum, 84-72, to chalk up its first win in the PBA 2001 season in a road game at the Urdaneta Cultural and Sports Complex here last night.

Meneses came up with crucial baskets each time the Rhum Masters came close in the payoff period as the Gin Kings fashioned out a stirring victory in a big turnaround from their poor performance in an 88-92 loss to the San Miguel Beermen last Wednesday.

The Gin Kings, thus, finally joined the win-column in the All-Filipino Cup while the Rhum Masters remained out of it with a second straight defeat, following a 66-75 loss to the Purefoods Hotdogs also on Wednesday.

Meneses scored nine points in the fourth quarter and finished with 20 while Jun Limpot carried the scoring cudgels early on and paced Ginebra with 22.

With Meneses still groping for form, the Rhum Masters took control, taking a 15-22 lead in the first quarter before settling for a 36-35 edge at halftime.

Former Ginebra mainstay Noli Locsin led Tanduay’s charge, scoring 24 points. Jeffrey Cariaso and Dondon Hontiveros added 18 and 14 points, respectively.

Meanwhile, Alaska Milk and Purefoods clash in an early rematch of last year’s All-Filipino finalists at the resumption of action at the Araneta Coliseum today.