After playing limited minutes and missing several games due to injury, Barangay Ginebra finally got something from its main man at the post, Eric Menk. The 6-foot-7 Menk posted a personal conference-best of 20 points to power the Kings to an 89-86 win against the defending champion B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados in the PBA Philippine Cup Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum.
The one-time league Most Valuable Player (MVP) was only 4-of-13 from the field, but he shot 12-of-14 from the foul line, including crucial ones down the stretch for Ginebra. He also added seven rebounds.
Entering the game, Menk averaged 4.2 points and 4.4 rebounds in five games. He played in Ginebra’s first three games, but missed the next five due to a leg injury. He returned against Barako Bull and in a loss to San Miguel Beer.
“In the endgame, you have to go to your veterans,” Ginebra mentor Jong Uichico said. “And Eric is a revelation for us. If not for him we won’t have any post threat. He made some crucial foul shots in the final stretch of the game.”
The victory gave Ginebra solo second place with an 8-3 win-loss card, behind San Miguel Beer’s 10-2 card. It also put the Kings back on the winning track after the loss to the Beermen, which snapped a six-game winning streak.
As for the Llamados, the George Gallent-mentored squad dropped to fourth place with a 6-6 record, their five-game winning run halted by the Kings.
The top two teams after the elimination will earn twice-to-beat incentives in the best-of-three quarterfinal series against the 7-8 teams. The 3-6 finishers will play in a crossover three-game series, while the 9-10 teams will be eliminated automatically.
“It’s a tough game, really a tough game. It’s good that we’re able to make some stops in the endgame, and then we made some shots at the right time. This is a crucial win because we’re in the final stretch of the elimination,” Uichico said.
Waylon Galvez, Manila Bulletin
