(PBA image)
It was far from pretty, but for Barangay Ginebra and its legion of fans, this was one victory worth celebrating.
Playing without several key weapons, the Gin Kings summoned their trademark “Never Say Die” spirit to overpower an equally depleted Meralco squad, 84-75, in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup eliminations on Friday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
And on a night when Ginebra desperately needed someone to step up, RJ Abarrientos answered the call in spectacular fashion.
Abarrientos Erupts for Season-High 27
Averaging only 11 points per game entering the contest, Abarrientos caught fire and poured in a season-high 27 points, including three triples, while adding three rebounds and three assists.
The young guard did most of the damage in the opening half, scoring 19 points to help Ginebra build a commanding 44-29 advantage at the break.
Import Riley Grigsby also delivered a huge performance, finishing with 25 points, nine rebounds, three assists and one steal. He provided the Gin Kings with a steady offensive presence whenever the Bolts attempted to mount a comeback.
Together, Abarrientos and Grigsby combined for 52 of Ginebra’s 84 points.
“Malaking pieces ang nawala sa amin. Mahirap i-fill up iyong kawalan nila. Pero buo pa rin naman kami. Basta kung sino ang ipasok, kailangan mag-step up,” Abarrientos said.
The message was simple: even with several stars missing, the players available had no choice but to rise to the occasion.
No Brownlee, No Scottie—Still No Surrender
Ginebra remained without resident import Justin Brownlee and former PBA Most Valuable Player Scottie Thompson, leaving the team severely short-handed.
Instead of allowing their absence to become an excuse, however, the Gin Kings turned the game into a battle of effort, defense and toughness.
Ginebra seized control early with an 18-10 lead after the first quarter and never trailed the entire night.
The Gin Kings stretched their advantage to as many as 18 points and refused to let Meralco come closer than nine in the fourth period.
The offense was not always smooth, but Ginebra’s defense and determination were enough to secure the badly needed victory.
“Sticking their nose into it, grinding it out,” coach Tim Cone said as he described his team’s mentality.
“It’s an ugly win, but we take it. We had to defend as best we can and grind it out. That’s what we did today.”
Cone admitted the performance was not pleasing to the eyes, but with Ginebra badly needing a win, style points no longer mattered.
Meralco Fights Back but Falls Short
Meralco also entered the game missing several rotation players.
CJ Cansino was sidelined by a hip injury, Bong Quinto was out due to vertigo, Jason Brickman was dealing with the flu, and Raymond Almazan was unavailable because of a back problem.
Antonio Hester led the Bolts with 24 points, while Chris Banchero added 15.
But despite their efforts, Meralco was unable to fully recover after falling into a deep hole in the first half.
Every time the Bolts threatened to build momentum, Ginebra responded—whether through an Abarrientos jumper, a Grigsby attack or a crucial defensive stop.
Gin Kings Climb the Group B Standings
The victory lifted Barangay Ginebra to a 2-2 record and into third place in Group B behind Phoenix at 4-1 and Rain or Shine at 3-2.
Meralco dropped to 2-3, tied with Blackwater for fourth place.
There will be little time for the Gin Kings to celebrate, however, as they now prepare for their biggest rivalry game.
Ginebra will face the Magnolia Hotshots in another explosive Manila Clasico showdown on Sunday.
After surviving an ugly and physical battle against Meralco, the Gin Kings delivered a clear warning to the rest of the league:
Barangay Ginebra may be short-handed, but it will never be short on heart.
The Scores
GINEBRA 84 — Abarrientos 27, Grigsby 25, Holt 8, J. Aguilar 7, Rosario 7, Go 5, Cu 3, Gray 2, Abis 0, Pinto 0, Carino 0, Torres 0.
MERALCO 75 — Hester 24, Banchero 15, Bates 8, Mocon 8, Newsome 7, Maliksi 6, Hodge 4, Rios 3, Comia 0, Caram 0, Black 0.
Quarter scores: 18-10, 44-29, 65-50, 84-75.