BARANGAY Ginebra gutted out a 101-99 victory over Blackwater on Friday to stretch its winning streak to three in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Philsports Arena.
Japeth Aguilar buried a jumper with one second left for the game-winner as the Gin Kings were made to earn the victory over the lowly Bossing who put on a gallant fight in the contest.
Barangay Ginebra improved to 5-2 to tie San Miguel at third place in the team standings.
Aguilar’s jumper was from an assist by Scottie Thompson that served as a reply to Blackwater’s game-tying three made by Troy Mallillin with 19.6 seconds left.
The Ginebra skipper had 22 points and six rebounds, while shooting 8 of 12 from the field. Thompson added 18 points and 10 assists, his clutch pass to Aguilar giving him the double-double for the contest.
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Ginebra coach Tim Cone acknowledged that the Gin Kings didn’t played their best against upset-seeking Blackwater that had Sedrick Barefield scoring 32 points, RK Ilagan 24, and Christian David 15.
“You are happy with the win but from a coaching standpoint, you are not too happy about the process that it took to get to this win,” said Cone.
“We didn’t play particularly well. We allowed them to really get a rhythm and we allowed Barefield to get a rhythm, we allowed Ilagan to get a rhythm. Even David, we couldn’t put the clamps on any three of them.
"That’s what made it such a difficult game for us. We just didn’t stepped up and found ways to stop those three guys,” Cone added.
The Bossing dropped to their fourth straight win for a 1-6 win-loss slate.
The Gin Kings were already up, 54-43, the biggest of the game, but the Bossing were able to grab an 81-77 lead on an Ilagan lay-up with nine minutes left.
Troy Rosario nailed a tip-in with 1:13 left to put the Gins up, 99-96, but missed a jumper with 23 seconds left that opened the opportunity for the Bossing to score the game-tying three by Mallillin.
The scores:
Barangay Ginebra 101 – J. Aguilar 22, Thompson 18, Rosario 18, Malonzo 15, Holt 13, Abarrientos 8, Adamos 4, David 3, Gray 0.
Blackwater 99 – Barefield 32, Ilagan 24, David 15, Mallillin 9, Escoto 8, Casio 3, Guinto 2, Tratter 2, Jopia 2, Chua 2, Andrade 0, Mitchell 0.
Quarters: 19-25; 46-43; 72-71; 101-99.
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