BRUMFIELD'S 45 MOVES GINEBRA A WIN AWAY FROM FINALS

NATE Brumfield scored a season-high 45 points, boosting Barangay Ginebra to a 110-103 win over
Smart-Gilas Sunday and into an imposing 2-0 lead in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals duel
at the Araneta Coliseum.

Repeatedly attacking the Nationals’ towering defense and making all but four of his free throw
attempts the wide-bodied Brumfield once again carried the day for the Kings, much like what he did
in a 97-96 squeaker in the series opener.

Barangay Ginebra can wrap up the best-of-five duel on Wednesday, but coach Jong Uichico prefers to
downplay his team’s chances.

“Siyempre every win here is big and it’s good to be up 2-0,” said Uichico. “Pero alam natin
na it’s a 3-of-5 and it takes three to win this series. Kaya we have to keep our emotions down. We
still have a job to do and there’s really no reason to celebrate.”

Despite the daunting deficit, Gilas coach Rajko Toroman’s optimism remains.

“Even if we lost, we still have the chance to continue,” he said. “We’ll try to recover. We
have no doubt we can continue (this) series.”

SEE THE FULL STORY