BIG WIN SENDS GINEBRA TO SEMIS
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel bounced back big from its Game 1 defeat and blasted Alaska, 108-95, in their winner-take-all quarterfinal game Saturday at the Cuneta Astrodome to barge into the semifinals of the 2014 PLDT myDSL PBA Philippine Cup.
“I think yung intensity namin ay napakataas. We had a high intensity and the energy was there. Napakaganda din ng adjustment namin (from our Game 1 defeat),” said Ginebra coach Ato Agustin.
“The key in this game is that we were able to dictate tempo. Sanay ang Ginebra sa gantong sitwasyon (na do-or-die).”
Japeth Aguilar posted a new career-high of 29 points, 19 of which coming in the first half, to go with his 15 rebounds and five blocks to power Ginebra to a league conference-high 69 halftime points, and continued to pounce the Aces to get a lead as big as 31, 76-45, early in the third canto.
LA Tenorio had 22 points, 11 in the fourth that kept the Aces at bay, while grabbing seven rebounds and seven assists. Chris Ellis had 16 markers.
Mac Baracael and Mark Caguioa both had 12 points, while Greg Slaughter added 11.
In front of a raucous overflow Cuneta crowd, the Kings scorched the Aces from the opening tip to the final buzzer of the highly-physical encounter.
“Kahapon pa sa practice, ang taas na ng energy namin. Sabi ko, if we play like we did yesterday, we’re gonna win the game kaya mas nadagdagan yung intensity namin sa game,” Agustin added.
With Alaska playing their fourth must-win game in seven days, the Aces cut the lead in the fourth to just 11 behind Calvin Abueva, JVee Casio, Sonny Thoss, and RJ Jazul, but the enwrgized Kings proved to be too much for the Aces, as the Beast and the Boss fouled out with 1:59 in the fourth, ending their last-ditch rally.
The victory gives the number one-seed Ginebra a chance to rest and scout its opponent in the best-of-seven semifinal series as they wait for the winner of the Talk ‘N Text-San Mig Coffee game on Sunday, still at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Their semifinal series begins on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“Kahit na sino ang makatapat namin, basta nakapasok na kami ng semis. Prepare lang kami,” Agustin said. (RL)
The Scores:
BARANGAY GINEBRA 108 – Aguilar 29, Tenorio 22, Ellis 16, Baracael 12, Caguioa 12, Slaughter 11, Helterbrand 5, Mamaril 1, Reyes 0, Monfort 0, Urbiztondo 0, Faundo 0.
ALASKA 95 – Casio 16, Espinas 16, Jazul 14, Abueva 13, Thoss 13, Baguio 13, Hontiveros 6, Avenido 4, Dela Cruz 0, Eman 0.
Quarters: 39-21, 69-43, 86-62, 108-95.
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