BARANGAY Ginebra welcomed Scottie Thompson back with convincing victory over Meralco, 110-96, on Friday night in the PBA 48th Season Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Gin Kings snapped out of a two-game losing skid and returned to their winning form upon former MVP Thompson's return to the line-up after missing three games due to back and ankle injuries.
Ahanmisi leads way
Thompson was among five Ginebra players who scored in double figures. Maverick Ahanmisi led the way with 25 points as the Kings improved to 5-3 (win-loss) and moved to a share of fourth place with San Miguel.
Thompson finished with a season-high 21 points while helping Ginebra limit high-scoring Meralco import Zach Lofton to only 23 after averaging 42 during his first two games.
Tony Bishop also had 12 points and 13 rebounds against his former team as Ginebra gears up for its Christmas Day game against TNT, also at the Big Dome.
Meralco saw its four-game winning streak come to an end and fell to 6-2 - good for third place in the team standings, just a game ahead of San Miguel and Ginebra.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone said the presence of Thompson was very evident in the contest.
“The guys were really challenged to play against them,” said Cone. “He changes the way we play with all his hustle and desire on both sides. Tonight, it was his defense. It was a tag team with him, Jamie, and Maverick off their import and they all did a great job.”
Christian Standhardinger had 21 points and 12 rebounds while Jamie Malonzo added 17 points for Ginebra, which pulled away in the third quarter by outscoring Meralco, 31-25.
Ginebra also led by as many as 19, 104-85, late in the fourth quarter.
The scores:
Barangay Ginebra 110 – Ahanmisi 25, Thompson 21, Standhardinger 21, Malonzo 17, Bishop 12, Pringle 7, J. Aguilar 7, Tenorio 0, Onwubere 0.
Meralco 96 – Lofton 23, Hodge 17, Black 14, Quinto 10, Maliksi 10, Newsome 9, Almazan 6, Pascual 4, Banchero 3, Rios 0, Torres 0, Bates 0.
Quarters: 24-25; 53-50; 84-75; 110-96.
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