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Cone lauds Helterbrand, Caguioa for giving Ginebra a 'big lift'

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src=" http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/sports/7/31/ginerbra-073116.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Ginebra guard Mark Caguioa brings down the ball in their PBA Governors Cup game against Meralco. Photo courtesy of the PBA Media Bureau</div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – Veteran guards JayJay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa earned praise from Ginebra coach Tim Cone for giving the Gin Kings a huge boost in the second half of their PBA Governors Cup game against Meralco on Saturday in Lucena City.Caguioa had 13 points, six rebounds, and two assists in less than 19 minutes, while Helterbrand had two points, three rebounds, and one board.Both players had starring roles in Ginebra&#x27;s crucial runs in the third and fourth quarters, with Helterbrand taking charge in a 13-3 run to close the third quarter that allowed the Gin Kings to break away from a 68-all deadlock and seize an 81-71 lead heading into the final frame.(READ: <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/basketball/news/2016/07/30/mercado-shines-ginebra-shuts-meralco-late-13817">Mercado shines as Ginebra shuts down Meralco late</a>)&quot;We played a tough game under tough conditions, and I thought that JayJay and Mark came out with a lot of energy in the fourth quarter and kind of changed the tempo for us, and that gave us a big lift,&quot; Cone said after the game.&quot;I thought that was a real key moment in the game,&quot; he added.Cone reserved special praise for Helterbrand, who has not gotten regular playing time in the Governors Cup yet came through with great effort against the Bolts.&quot;For him to come in and play that hard and that well and that quickly, to adjust and not feel bad about not playing, it was a really high character game for JayJay, and so we&#x27;re proud of him,&quot; he added.It also helped that import Justin Brownlee was able to finish the game without suffering cramps, said Cone.&quot;No cramps for Justin, so that was really big. I thought he might cramp up here, playing out of town, but the gym was nice, it was cool, it wasn&#x27;t that hot,&quot; he said.Brownlee finished with 26 points, plaing over 35 minutes, and outplayed his Meralco counterpart Allen Durham who only had 14 markers.The win was Ginebra&#x27;s second straight, giving them a 3-1 win-loss record. Meralco, for its part, is now at 2-2.(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website.</a>)

Veteran guards JayJay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa earned praise from Ginebra coach Tim Cone for giving the Gin Kings a huge boost in the second half of their PBA Governors Cup game against Meralco on Saturday in Lucena City.