KING GREGORY DOMINATES AS GINEBRA GETS PLAYOFFS TOP SEED
Greg Slaughter had a monster game for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel as the Kings secured the first twice-to-beat edge in the quarterfinals and the coming playoffs’ top seed in the 2014 PLDT myDSL-PBA Philippine Cup, defeating GlobalPort Batang Pier, 108-92, Friday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
This year’s number one overall pick had a double-double with his career-high 23 points and 13 rebounds on an efficient 11-for-17 shooting from the field, making mincemeat of the foul-plagued Batang Pier frontline.
Best Player of the Conference contender Japeth Aguilar scored 12 of his 21 points in the first quarter, which saw Barangay Ginebra lead early 11-2, setting the tone for crowd favorites.
Mac Baracael finished with 18 points, while Chris Ellis and Mark Caguioa combined for 22 markers. LA Tenorio also had a double-double with 10 points and 11 assists.
“Now I can say na No. 1 na kami. Kahit anong mangyari sa Sunday, nakuha na namin yung aim namin, which is to finish one or two,” said Barangay Ginebra coach Ato Agustin.
“We’re ready for this game and we were able to push the ball. Maganda yung transition namin at maganda rin yung rebounds,” he added.
Agustin also said, “One thing na maganda sa amin ngayon is hindi na kami nagpa-panic. Kahit yung kalaban namin nakaka-recover, focused pa rin kami sa ginagawa namin at sa game plan namin.”
Barangay Ginebra was able to quash numerous runs by GlobalPort, which cut the Kings’ lead and nipped it by as much as five courtesy of an Eric Menk jumper. But Slaughter had a field day down low, scoring whenever he got the ball in the post.
“Ang importante sa amin ngayon is we continue what we’re doing,” Agustin said. “We need to be aggressive all the time. Offensively and defensively, dapat aggressive especially sa playoffs. Hindi pwedeng maging overconfident. It’s another level of competition at lahat ng teams mag-a-adjust kaya dapat focused talaga kami sa mga ginagawa namin.”
Though their feet are firmly set on the number one spot, Agustin is still weary of their weaknesses, saying, “We’re giving up too many easy points. We always remind the players especially the big guys on second chance points.”
GlobalPort, which also lost to the Kings in their first meeting 109-104 last Nov. 28, was able to score 12 second chance points off 18 offensive rebounds Friday.
Sol Mercado led the Batang Pier with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Menk, energized in the contest facing his long time team, had 17 markers and 14 rebounds, for his second straight double-double.
Jewel Ponferrada had a career-high 16, while rookie Terrence Romeo could not replicate his performance in their first meeting with Barangay Ginebra as he only had 13. (RL)
The scores:
BARANGAY GINEBRA 108 – Slaughter 23, Aguilar 21, Baracael 18, Ellis 11, Caguioa 11, Tenorio 10, Reyes 8, Helterbrand 2, Monfort 2, Mamaril 2, Ababou 0, Urbiztondo 0.
GLOBALPORT 92 – Mercado 20, Menk 17, Ponferrada 16, Romeo 13, Garcia 9, Nabong 7, Hayes 6, Chua 2, Salva 2, Belencion 0, Najorda 0, Salvador 0.
Quarterscores: 28-20, 58-49, 80-73, 108-92.
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