BARANGAY Ginebra continued its inspired climb up the standings after cutting down Talk ‘N Text to size, 107-100, before a sellout crowd in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup match-up on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Talisman Mark Caguioa put together another dazzling performance, scoring 28 points while providing the energy and inspiration that soon rubbed off on the rest of the Gin Kings.
LA Tenorio, Chris Ellis, Rudy Hatfield, and import Vernon Macklin soon joined the fray, with the import breaking loose for a couple of rim-rattling dunks before a crowd of close to 17,000 fans at the Big Dome.
Macklin's two-handed dunk with 35.4 seconds to go put the game away, 105-98.
Ginebra coach Al Chua later paid tribute to the team's defense, which he said managed to stop Talk 'N Text's vaunted drive and kick offense as well as the Texters' pick and roll plays.
“Talk ‘N Text is a very strong team but they got confused on what we’re doing on defense. We had three kinds of defense that we applied because of their pick and roll offense and their drive and kick,” said Chua.
"But I give it to the boys kasi di sila sumuko."
Ginebra won back-to-back games for the first time in the import-spiced tournament to move up to 3-5 win-loss while dropped to 4-4 in a tie with defending champion San Mig Coffee and Meralco in fourth spot.
Macklin added 24 points for Ginebra while Tenorio had 20, spiked by three triples. Ellis chipped in seven points, 12 rebounds and three assists.
Import Donnell Harvey and Alapag scored 23 points apiece for the Tropang Texters.
The scores:
Brgy Ginebra 107 - Caguioa 28, Macklin 24, Tenorio 20, Ellis 7, Raymundo 7, Labagala 6, , Mamaril 6, Hatfield 6, Baracael 3, Jensen 0
Talk ‘N Text 100 - Harvey 23, Alapag 23, Castro 16, Fonacier 16, de Ocampo 11, Williams 4, Dillinger 3, Al-Hussaini 2, Carey 2, Raymundo 0, Aban 0
Quarterscores: 26-24, 51-50, 78-77, 107-100
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