Tigers, injured Sanford pound Gins

Coca-Cola made key foul shots down the stretch as it turned back a fighting Barangay Ginebra, 96-93, yesterday to gain a share of second place with Alaska Milk in the Gran Matador PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Mark Sanford, hounded all game by a hyper-extended right knee and a left knee contusion, fired 30 points, including six in the fourth quarter as he powered the Tigers to their ninth victory against four losses. He also pulled down 13 rebounds, had four assists and a couple of steals and made three shot blocks while helping Rafi Reavis shackle Ginebra’s Eric Menk in the fourth period.

But the Tigers still needed the steady hands of Jeffrey Cariaso, who knocked in eight of his 18 points in the final period, including a pair of pressure-packed free throws that held off the rallying Gin Kings.

"We know Ginebra is an energized team and they are fun to watch so I asked my players not only to match their energy but play with more of it," said Coca-Cola coach Chot Reyes, who hinted at tapping a new import to allow Sanford to rest his knees.

The Tigers ran the Kings to the ground with a pair of runs linking the last two quarters as they shattered a 60-all deadlock to sit on an 83-72 cushion with nine minutes remaining in the contest.

Ginebra then countered with seven unanswered points capped by a Mark Caguioa triple – his first points after going scoreless in the first 40 minutes of the match. That cut the deficit to four at 79-83 but Braggs fouled out after a couple of plays as Coca-Cola remained on top, 91-85.

After Rafi Reavis split his charities to give the Tigers a 92-85 cushion, Caguioa and Rodney Santos combined in a 6-0 blast that put the Kings within 91-92 1.36 to go.

Caguioa, however, muffed three of his last four attempts while Cariaso, Johnny Abarrientos and Sanford hit four free throws to seal the victory for the Tigers.

Reavis and Reynel Hugnatan also came up with big numbers as the duo combined for 21 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, two steals and the same number of shot blocks.

In the other game, FedEx leaned on a John Ferriols putback with 11 seconds to go as it stunned Red Bull Barako, 100-98, to end a three-game skid and clinch a fourth win against nine defeats.

It was the Barako’s seventh setback against six wins.

Import Torraye Braggs, who powered Ginebra to back-to-back wins last week, fouled out with 3:26 left in the game, hastening the Gin Kings’ loss, their eighth againt five victories. He finished with 29 points, 12 rebounds and four assists.

"It also helped that Torraye Braggs fouled out. It would have been different if he’s (Braggs) around," added Reyes.

Ginebra’s fortunes also changed when Eric Menk, who exploded for 19 points in the first three quarters, was held scoreless in the fourth, no thanks to a stifling defense put up by Sanford and Reavis.