BARANGAY Ginebra breezed past Blackwater, 115-85, on Friday to claim its first win in the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The result of the game was never in doubt after the Gin Kings outscored the Bossing, 31-19 in the first and second quarter to bounce back from their 81-78 loss to Phoenix Super LPG last Sunday.
Blackwater bowed to its second straight defeat after it was nipped by Meralco, 116-114, last Tuesday.
This time around, the game wasn’t even close.
Ralph Cu was responsible for the pullaway after he chipped in 11 points in the second quarter including three threes.
So lopsided was the result that Barangay Ginebra had the luxury of inserting its second and third-stringers with Kemark Carino among those who took advantage of the added time on the court.
Stephen Holt had 19 points, and Riley Grigsby had 18 points and the two teamed up to score 16 of Barangay Ginebra’s 31 points in the first quarter to set the tone.
Seven other players scored in double digits including Cu and Carino, who each had 11 points. Japeth Aguilar also had 11 points and also had five shot blocks.
Barangay Ginebra even led by as many as 40 points, 105-65.
“I think it was just getting a game under our belt,” Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone said on why they were much better on Friday. “Getting that first game jitters out of the way gave us a couple more practices.
“Before the Phoenix game, Troy (Rosario) and RJ (Abarrientos) only practiced for three days prior to that game. They didn’t really know Riley Grigsby all that well so were feeling our way through the game,” Cone said.
Blackwater could not recover from the initial Barangay Ginebra onslaght even with Kentrell Barkley having another double-double with 26 points and 10 rebounds.
The scores:
Barangay Ginebra 115 – Holt 19, Grigsby 18, Abarrientos 14, Cu 11, Rosario 11, Pinto 11, J. Aguilar 11, Carino 11, Estil 4, Gray 2, Abis 2, Torres 1, R. Aguilar 0, Go 0.
Blackwater 85 – Barkley 26, Barefield 16, Panopio 15, Ilagan 10, Austria 5, Mallillin 5, Tratter 2, Escoto 2, Murrell 2, Cruz-Dumont 1, Mendoza 1, Demusis 0, DiGregorio 0, Sena 0, Una 0.
Quarters: 31-23; 62-42; 96-63; 115-85.
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.
