(PBA images)
BARANGAY Ginebra came out firing and blasted TNT, 97-78, in a key win but boosted the Gin Kings’ Top Four aspiration in the PBA Philippine Cup elims at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium Sunday.
Japeth Aguilar led a soaring 30-11 opening salvo for the Gin Kings, quickly setting tone in the lopsided victory that propelled Ginebra to joint third place with the Magnolia Hotshots at 7-3, now just a game behind NLEX (8-2) and half-game adrift of San Miguel Beer (7-2).
With tremendous resolve all night, the Gin Kings decimated the Tropang 5G and handed them their first loss in their last seven outing.
Aguilar, Stephen Holt, Jamie Malonzo, Troy Rosario and Scottie Thompson formed a lethal starting unit while RJ Abarrientos put in a solid job off the bench as they spoiled Jordan Heading’s TNT debut.’
With their hot streak snapped, the Tropang 5G dropped to joint fifth place with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Converge FiberXers at 6-4.
TNT closes out its elims stint versus Magnolia on June 13 while Ginebra is up against Rain or Shine in their final game on June 15.
The Gin Kings played with urgency and purpose from the get-go, starting with a 13-0 tear, taking the first quarter at 30-11, sitting with a 54-27 cushion at halftime and refusing to slow down in the dominant win against the very team that crushed them in the last Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup finals.
Abarrientos scored a game-high 23 points, Aguilar delivered a double-double with 20 markers and 14 boards while Holt, Malonzo and Rosario chipped in 12, 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the Kings.
Aguilar had had double-double numbers with 14 points and 10 rebounds as they enjoyed a 27-point lead at halftime.
It was a complete domination right in the first half for the Kings as they shot 55.9 percent from the field while the Tropang Giga bled for 31.4 percent.
And Ginebra pounded TNT practically on all fronts in a vengeful win fashioned out right in front of Tropa champion import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
Calvin Oftana took a while before finding his touch, top scoring for TNT with 18 though going scoreless in the first half.
Heading, a fresh trade recruit from Converge in exchange for Mikee Williams, led TNT with seven points in the first half and finished with 10 to go with three rebounds and three assists.
The scores:
Barangay Ginebra 97 – Abarrientos 23, J. Aguilar 20, Holt 12, Malonzo 12, Rosario 11, Pinto 6, Thompson 5, R. Aguilar 4, David 2, Gray 2 Adamos 0, Cu 0, Ahanmisi 0.
TNT 78 – Oftana 18, Heading 10, Aurin 9, Williams 8, Pogoy 8, Khobuntin 7, Enciso 5, Nieto 4, Vosotros 3, Ganuelas Rosser 2, Varilla 2, Erram 2, Heruela 0.
Quarterscores: 30-11, 54-27, 74-50, 97-78
