Limpot gives Gin Kings second win

BAGUIO – Driven by a desire to end his search for a cherished championship, Jun Limpot continued to showcase an MVP performance as Barangay Ginebra showed up Sta. Lucia, 89-82, in a road game here last night, taking the early solo lead in the Samsung PBA All-Filipino Cup eliminations.

Limpot unravelled a second huge game in four days as he followed up his 30-point outing versus the Purefoods Hotdogs Wednesday with a solid double-double act against the Realtors, electrifying the predominantly Ginebra crowd at the jampacked Easter College gym.

The former La Salle King Archer, who’s still without a title in his 11th season in the pros, went 11-of-19 from the field and tallied 27 points and 12 rebounds, underscoring his determination to finally nail a PBA title.

Meanwhile, Benjie Paras, the long-time Shell main man who distinguished himself among the greatest players ever in the PBA, will be feted by his ballclub and the league in a brief ceremony today at the Araneta Coliseum.

Shell is retiring Paras’ No. 14 jersey in deep appreciation of the player’s unbounded dedication and loyalty to the team in all his 14-year stint in the PBA.

"Ang motto ko sa buhay may pag-asa hanggang may buhay, kaya I’m still hopeful mananalo ako ng championship sa PBA," said Limpot after the Kings repulsed the Hotdogs Wednesday at the Philsports Arena.

The 6-foot-5 forward-slotman from Surigao has won championships in the collegiate league, in the PBL and in a number of international tourneys but not a single one in the PBA. The best he could get was a lone finals appearance with the Kings in the All-Filipino Cup two years ago.

Getting a big lift not only from Limpot but also from three-year pro Mark Caguioa and rookie Sunday Salvacion, the Kings dominated the Realtors as they nailed a second straight win in the season.

Salvacion went 4-of-7 from the three-point arc, scoring three successively in a fiery exchange that kept Ginebra ahead at 64-59 at the end of the third.

Caguioa highlighted his own exploits with a five-point binge at the start of the payoff quarter, giving the Kings a 69-59 cushion.

The Realtors came within three at 80-83 on six unanswered points by Marlou Aquino, Dennis Espino and Kenneth Duremdes with time down to 2:30.

But Salvacion fired the last of his four three-pointers in the night in the ensuing play and the Kings regained more breathing room at 86-80.

Sta. Lucia eventually lost the game as it scored only a single basket from there.

The Realtors drew some numbers from their reserves this time but suffered the same fate as in their losing debut against the Alaska Aces in the season opener last Sunday.

Francis Adriano, Jason Webb and Leo Bat-og combined for 11 points coming off the bench. The whole Sta. Lucia bench finished with a fat egg versus Alaska.

Meanwhile, Alaska Milk and Shell also seek a second straight win as they take on Talk N Text and Purefoods, respectively, at the resumption of play at the Araneta Coliseum today.

The Aces and the Phone Pals clash in the 4 p.m. opener then the Turbo Chargers and the Hotdogs collide in the 6 p.m. mainer.