CHRISTMAS TAKEOVER AS GINEBRA GRABS SOLO LEAD
For the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, it was a merry Christmas as they grabbed solo top spot in the team standings in the 2014 PLDT myDSL-PBA Philippine Cup with a 97-83 trouncing of the Petron Blaze Boosters Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Ginebra coach Ato Agustin said, “Maganda yung binigay namin na gift sa fans. The players played hard and worked hard for it.”
The Gin Kings gave the 20,448 in attendance a Christmas treat as Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter had a dunk party down low, pouncing the Boosters frontline which missed the services of June Mar Fajardo who was out due to a sprained ACL.
Aguilar had 12 of his game-high 25 points in the third quarter, to go with his 11 rebounds and two blocks, while Mark Caguioa came off the bench and spurred the finishing kick for Ginebra, scoring 10 of his 18 markers in the final canto. Greg Slaughter had 17 points and eight rebounds, while Mac Baracael chipped in 11 of his own.
“Our defense did it,” he said. “Maganda yung depensa namin kaya kami nakabalik kahit naunahan kami.”
Arwind Santos captained a 6-0 blast off the gates to give Petron the early lead, but after the first Ginebra timeout, it was all red and white as the starters scored 19 points to give the Gin Kings a 28-19 advantage after one.
“At the start of the game, parang relaxed sila because we know na wala si June Mar. I told them in our first timeout na wag kaming mag-relax and stick with our game plan. I reminded them that whether he plays or not, kailangan yung game plan yung susundin natin. And fortunately, nag-focus na sila after that,” Agustin said.
The Blaze Boosters kept on fighting back behind Santos, but it was too much of the Ginebra frontline as Petron were down by as big as 22 points in the fourth quarter.
Santos kept the Boosters afloat in the game, scoring 10 of his team-high 22 in the third quarter, while grabbing 12 rebounds, having three steals and two blocks, but Fajardo’s absence obviously hurt Petron in the offensive end.
Chris Lutz added 15 points, Chris Ross had 14, and Doug Kramer pulled off a double-double with 11 points and 14 boards in the losing effort.
“Ang naging problem namin nung lumamang na kami ng malaki is our transition defense and offensive rebounds. Dun sila nakabalik. Aggressive sila,” Agustin added.
Despite missing “The Kraken,” Petron outrebounded Ginebra 53-48, with 21 of the Boosters’ boards coming in the offensive end.
“Dun ako nagtataka, may 7-footer kami pero lamang sila sa rebounds. Pero ang mahalaga, nanalo yung team.”
Agustin said, “Kami na yung leader but still we have four games. May mangyayari pa. Kailangan pa naming manalo sa coming games at doon pa lang kami makakapagpahinga.”
With the win, Ginebra extended their winning streak to five and improved their record to 8-1, while Petron falls for the second straight game but still sits at the second place with a 7-2 card.
As the final buzzer sounded, Slaughter and Fajardo shook hands in center court, leaving the world waiting for the next time the two behemoths paths will cross again. (RLeongson)
The Scores:
GINEBRA 97 – Aguilar 25, Caguioa 18, Slaughter 17, Baracael 11, Ellis 8, Reyes 7, Urbiztondo 7, Monfort 3, Forrester 1, Ababou 0, Helterbrand 0, Tenorio 0, Faundo 0.
PETRON 83 – Santos 22, Lutz 15, Ross 14, Kramer 11, Cabagnot 7, Lassiter 5, Lanete 4, Hubalde 4, Taha 1, Duncil 0, Tubid 0, Deutchman 0.
Quarters: 28-19, 47-42, 71-63, 97-83.
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