SANS HELTERBRAND, GINEBRA STILL BEATS COKE Salvacion, Tubid shine as Kings repeat over Tigers Ronald Tubid and Sunday Salvacion picked up the slack in the absence of Jayjay Helterbrand as Barangay Ginebra repeated over Coca-Cola, 84-77, to force a five-way logjam at third place in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Olivarez Sports Center in Paranaque Thursday. Tubid sizzled with 22 points and Salvacion came through with 21 as Ginebra stayed on a roll sans Helterbrand, catching up with Talk N Text, Rain or Shine, Sta. Lucia Realty and Air21 at 6-6. Helterbrand, who scored 28 points in the Kings 81-77 win over the Tigers in their previous tiff, sat out the rematch due to a groin injury. Still, the Kings found a way to make it two in a row over the Tigers as they came out strong and hung tough in the face of a determined Coca-Cola chase in the final quarter. Junthy Valenzuela and Rafi Reavis returned from long layoff, playing briefly as the Kings dealt the Tigers an eighth loss in 15 games. Coca-Cola suffered its first loss since the return of Ronjay Buenafe and John Arigo from the injured list. Barangay Ginebra jumped the gun on Coca-Cola and held on to the lead to the finish for a third straight win following back-to-back victories over Purefoods and Sta. Lucia. Limited to seven points in the first 14 minutes of the contest, the Tigers waged a chase in the final half, reducing a 21-point deficit to one at 55-56 largely on the exploits of Buenafe, Mark Telan, Nic Belasco and Ronjay Enrile. The Kings, however, wont be denied of their longest win streak in the conference. Barangay Ginebra, which has actually now won four of its last five games, reorganized and regained momentum on back-to-back triples by Salvacion. From a 64-61 count, the Kings went to Salvacion, Tubid and Willy Wilson for clutch baskets as they eventually broke the Tigers back. Ginebra took the opening quarter at 21-6 and posted its 21-point spread at 28-7. (NC) The scores: Barangay Ginebra 84 Tubid 22, Salvacion 21, Wilson 9, Crisano 8, Valenzuela 7, Menk 6, Mamaril 4, Escalona 4, Artadi 3, Cabatu 0, Reavis 0. Coca-Cola 77 Telan 18, Cabagnot 15, Taulava 13, Buenafe 10, Belasco 9, Enrile 6, Macapagal 3, Rizada 2, Catli 0, Arigo 0, Dimaunahan 0. Quarterscores: 21-6, 34-20, 56-48, 84-77 SOURCE: http://www.pba.ph