BARANGAY Ginebra went on a furious finishing kick to upend Meralco, 100-92, on Wednesday night in the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The third-seeded Gin Kings asserted their mastery of the Bolts, winning their fifth game of the season against their perennial playoff rivals to move one win away from a place in the semifinals.
Scottie Thompson and Justin Brownlee had 23 points each for the Gin Kings, who closed the game with a 13-7 run after being down by two, 87-85.
READ Tim Cone loses voice - but not the game - as del Rosario steps in
Thompson embellished an all-around performance by chipping in seven rebounds, six assists, four steals, and one block. He also scored five points in that late breakaway.
“It was really a tough game because Meralco is a very good defensive team,” said Ginebra assistant coach Richard Del Rosario, who pinch-hit in the postgame press conference after Tim Cone lost his voice.
“They made it difficult for us to execute our offense. ‘Yun ‘yung challenge sa amin, how we can stay disciplined with our execution. They do a lot of things that take you out of the execution. But the players, ‘yung grit talaga nila ‘yung nag-panalo dito.”
Japeth Aguilar had 19 points and nine rebounds, while RJ Abarrientos added 14 points and six assists for the Gin Kings, who will look to sweep Meralco in Game Two on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Bolts couldn’t hang on after taking a slim two-point lead with 7:53 left in the game on a Chris Newsome three. Meralco even trailed by 12 early in the second quarter but was still able to keep the game close.
Newsome had 20 points, while Akil Mitchel added 19 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, and three steals for the Bolts.
The scores:
Barangay Ginebra 100 – Thompson 23, Brownlee 23, J. Aguilar 19, Abarrientos 14, Rosario 8, Malonzo 7, Holt 6, Ahanmisi 0.
Meralco 92 – Newsome 20, Mitchell 19, Rios 13, Banchero 12, Quinto 11, Almazan 8, Black 5, Hodge 4, Bates 0, Cansino 0.
Quarters: 24-17; 50-47; 78-76; 100-92.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
