-
-
-
SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
-
-
-
-
04
-
26
-
2024
-
SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
04
26
2024
PBA IMAGES
Othyus Jeffers came through with a huge double-double game despite a back spasm and Barangay Ginebra finally picked up a victory in the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup with a 103-92 toppling of Rain or Shine and new import Antoine Wright Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Enduring pain on his back in the last eight minutes of the game, Jeffers matched his personal PBA-best of 38 points and also snared 20 rebounds as the Gin Kings made the winning column in the mid-season tourney following back-to-back losses to NLEX and Globalport.
“It’s a relief. It’s a must-win basically as we can’t fall behind 0-3. We need to win this game to get our confidence back,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.
“We have to figure out to win. Hat’s off to our guys, they pulled off this one,” Cone also said, saving his best words for Jeffers who played through an injury in the fourth quarter.
Returning to play with eight minutes to play, Jeffers strung up three crucial baskets right away and thus matched a 38-point job made in a one-game stint with Talk n Text two years ago.
Joe Devance also put in key buckets helping the Gin Kings stay in control to the very end.
The ROS new import, arriving in the country in the morning of the match, struggled for 16 markers.
Jeffers had got double-double numbers with 23 points and 13 rebounds while Slaughter had had 11 boards and nine markers by the half at 53-44.
Largely behind the exploits of the two, the Gin Kings led by 17 at 46-29 before settling for a nine-point margin at the turn.
The Kings had reestablished a commanding 77-62 lead when Jeffers asked to be sub due to back spasm with 2:23 left in the third.
The crowd cheered on Jeffers as he pulled down an offensive rebound and scored off two defenders even when already in pain.
Ginebra sat on an 82-70 cushion after the first three quarters of play.
With an all-Filipino starting unit, the E-Painters fought the Kings through eight lead changes and three deadlocks early on.
The Kings made a 10-to-nothing attack towards the end of the first quarter and carried a 28-23 lead going into the second period.
The scores:
GINEBRA 103 – Jeffers 38, Slaughter 16, Devance 13, Aguilar 10, Ellis 7, Thompson 5, Caguioa 4, Mercado 4, Tenorio 3, Marcelo 2, Cruz 1.
RAIN OR SHINE 92 – Quinahan 21, Wright 16, Chan 13, Cruz 10, Ahanmisi 8, Belga 8, Ibanes 3, Almazan 2, Ponferrada 2, Tiu 1, Trollano 0.
Quarters: 28-23, 53-44, 82-70, 103-92.
Follow Us
Other Stories:
Recent Stories:
Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines.
