The young Cabatu dished out his best game as a pro Sunday night, and Barangay Ginebra continued to buck absence of key players, repulsing Air21, 101-92, in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Beating title holder Sta. Lucia Wednesday, Ginebra is now on an improbable run playing minus injury-stricken stalwarts Mark Caguioa, Billy Mamaril, Rafi Reavis and Eric Menk.
As if injuries to the four players were not enough, Alex Crisano was hit by a strained calf muscle early in the second half.
Cabatu, however, came to the Kings' rescue, putting in a career-high 23 points -- the bulk of which fueling a mighty charge carrying Ginebra to the win that tied them with Rain or Shine and Alaska Milk atop the field with identical 2-0 win-loss slates.
The Express suffered a third straight loss, remaining winless since beaten by the same team in the Fiesta Conference finals.
"I don't know how we did it. We're just finding ways how to win," said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.
"Surely, Junjun had a big hand on this win. He's a good acquisition since he can shoot from inside and out," Uichico said of the 24-year-old three-year pro -- the first boy of Sonny Cabatu who himself had a stint with Ginebra.
The older Cabatu had a career-best 25 points although his biggest production in his first three years in the pros was only 21.
Junjun, a former La Salle Archer dumped by Alaska after the 2007-08 campaign, went 4-of-7 from the three-point area, 5-of-8 from the two-point land and 1-of-2 from the stripe while also coming through with six rebounds, five assists and two steals along the way.
He pumped in two of his triples in a lethal assault that had the Kings breaking loose from a 90-91 count in the last four minutes of play.
Junthy Valenzuela returned from a one-game layoff, contributing 14 points, three rebounds, two steals and one assist.
Jayjay Helterbrand, Ronald Tubid and Paul Artadi had their own shining moments as Ginebra made a followup on their 89-86 decision over Sta. Lucia.
The Express dominated the game early on, taking a 46-41 halftime lead which they stretched to 62-54 on triples by Arwind Santos and Wynne Arboleda early in the third quarter.
Air21, however, faded out in the fourth as it did in its first two games.
Though playing off-the-bench, Santos paced the Express in the first half with 11 points on 5-of-9 field-goal shooting.
The Air21 starters of Gary David, JR Quinahan, Ranidel de Ocampo and Arboleda combined for 27 points as against the 25 of Helterbrand, Artadi, Crisano and Tubid as the Express took the upper hand at the turn.
The Express performed better in field-goal shooting and rebounding as they surged ahead at halftime after engaging the Gin Kings in seven deadlocks and six lead changes. (NC)
The scores
Ginebra 101 -- Cabatu 23, Helterbrand 21, Valenzuela 14, Tubid 13, Artadi 11, Wilson 6, Crisano 6, Pacana 4, Holper 2, Escalona 1, Salvacion 0.
Air21 92 -- Santos 19, De Ocampo 15, Arboleda 12, David 11, Se 10, Quinahan 8, Billones 7, Intal 4, Cruz 3, Canaleta 3, Kramer 0.
Quarterscores: 22-20, 41-46, 76-77, 101-92
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