BARANGAY Ginebra picked up its second straight win in three days, defeating Phoenix, 94-72, on Friday in the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Gin Kings went on a 12-0 tear to start the fourth quarter to take full control of the game and start the conference with a 2-0 win-loss record.
The Fuelmasters lost for the fourth straight time to stay winless in the conference.
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The third quarter saw Ginebra outscore Phoenix, 24-17, after the Gin Kings trailed, 48-47, at the half, just two days after their win over NLEX to begin the conference.
The Gin Kings actually limited the Fuelmasters to only seven points in the fourth quarter, where they led by as many as 26 points.
“Our philosophy is a defensive team first. We will tolerate offensive mistakes but defense is more of effort and knowledge. Our expectations are always high for us defensively than we are offensively,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.
“We feel that we are going to make shots on some nights and some nights, we are not going to make shots,” said Cone, whose team shot 50 percent, slightly lower than their 53 percent shooting during the NLEX game. “But the effort and the focus that we put on defense, we can control every night.”
Scottie Thompson had 17 points, six rebounds, and two steals, while Japeth Aguilar added 16 points including 10 in the third quarter, despite being on minutes restriction as part of Ginebra’s effort to rest players during their tough schedule in December which includes a match against Eastern on Sunday.
Justin Brownlee added 10 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and two steals in 32 minutes of action.
Donovan Smith had 20 points and 15 rebounds, while Kenneth Tuffin had 15 points on 3-for-5 shooting from threes in yet another Phoenix defeat.
The scores:
Barangay Ginebra 94 – Thompson 17, J. Aguilar 16, Rosario 14, Abarrientos 12, Brownlee 10, Cu 8, Holt 5, Ahanmisi 5, Pinto 5, Mariano 2, Adamos 0, Pessumal 0, R. Aguilar 0.
Phoenix 72 – Smith 20, Tuffin 15, Perkins 10, Tio 7, Ballungay 7, Rivero 4, Manganti 4, Verano 3, Salado 2, Alejandro 0, Jazul 0, Camacho 0, Garcia 0, Soyud 0, Ular 0.
Quarters: 23-28; 47-48; 71-65; 94-72.
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