2006 NCAA slamdunk champ Noel debuts with triple-double to lead crowd favorites

IT looks like Barangay Ginebra has another well-rounded import in David Noel.

And with Eric Menk recovering his fiery form of old, there's no telling how high the Kings can go in the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference.

Noel debuted with 22 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists and Menk came off the bench to add 22 points and six rebounds as Ginebra thundered past Burger King 100-94 Monday at the Cuneta Astrodome, the defending champion's third straight win.

With Jayjay Helterbrand adding 19 points the Kings had little trouble racing to as much as a 13-point lead in the second quarter before holding off the Whoppers' protracted uprisings the rest of the way.

“He's a hard worker, but we still have to see his true game. So in practice hahanapin pa namin ang strengths niya ” said winning coach Jong Uichico of Noel, who started out shakily but steadily improved as the game wore on.

Menk was also a big factor, scoring 11 of his points in the fourth period, including his team's last six, that kept Burger King at bay.

Menk also had six rebounds in a big followup to his 24 and nine in leading Ginebra past Rain or Shine last Friday in a game the Kings played minus an import. Prior to that, he missed four games due to an ankle injury.

“He knows that because of our deeper bench mas lalo siyang dapat mag-trabaho because he has fewer minutes to work with. Kaya doble kayod siya,” said Uichico of the 34-year-old 2004-05 league MVP.

Despite Egay Billones' career-high 27 points, Burger King still absorbed its third straight loss, pulling it down to a 4-5 win-loss record and a tie with its latest conqueror at sixth-running slot.

Shawn Daniels had 20 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks but the Whoppers missed the usual game of Arwind Santos. He came into the game averaging a conference locals-best 20.4 points but wound up with a season-low-tying five points on 2-for-12 field shooting. Also listless was Gary David, who had 13 points, six below his norm.

The loss also came just two days after the Whoppers officially closed deals that sent point guard Celino Cruz to Purefoods for forward Aaron Aban and Cyrus Baguio and Homer Se to Ginebra for a first round pick in next year's rookie draft.

Baguio wound up with five points on just four field attempts in his red-and-white Ginebra debut while Se was not utilized.

Uichico pointed out the mere absence of Baguio from Burger King was already a boost in itself for his team.

“Nabawasan kami agad ng isang problema sa kabila,” he said.

Arriving only last Saturday and officially measured at 6-foot-5 early yesterday afternoon, Noel was hardly a factor in the first quarter. He missed his first four field attempts and wound up with just two points, off a short stab.

His shooting touch hardly changed in the second quarter, although he did finally drain a triple that partially helped stem the Whoppers' uprising from a 13-point deficit. He also had eight of his 11 first half rebounds in the period alone.

It was Helterbrand who was hot, booming in his first four field tries, including three treys, for 12 points that staked the Kings to a 23-21 edge after the first period.

Then it was the turn of Baguio to shine as he scattered all his five points to fuel an 11-0 run opening the second period which gave Ginebra a 34-21 lead.

Still, Burger King gamely hung on to Ginebra's coattaails, mainly through David and Aban who combined for 15 points in the second period and helped the team keep within 42-46 at the half. (NCo)
The scores:

Ginebra 100 - Noel 22, Menk 22, Helterbrand 19, Intal 9, Pacana 6, Tubid 6, Baguio 5, Lanete 4, Artadi 3, Kramer 2, Mamaril 2, Reavis 0.

Burger King 94 - Billones 27, Daniels 20, David 13, Quinahan 11, Arboleda 8, Aban 6, Santos 5, Rodriguez 2, Belga 2, Alonzo 0, Cruz 0.

Quarterscores: 23-21, 46-42, 82-71, 100-94.


Source: http://www.pba.ph/content/view/2590/1/