GINEBRA BURSTS KIA BUBBLE, GRABS SOLO LEAD
LUCENA – Before big crowds at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan then at the Quezon Convention Center, the Barangay Ginebra Kings came through with scintillating performances that propelled them to early solo lead in the 2014-15 PBA Philippine Cup.
The Kings sustained the momentum of their 101-81 drubbing of the Talk n Text Tropang Texters during the season inaugurals, following it up with an 87-55 crushing of the Kia Sorento in the kickoff leg of the Petron Blaze PBA on Tour series here Saturday.
The huge Ginebra frontcourt duo of Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar sparked a major run as the Kings broke away in the second quarter and never looked back, handing Manny Pacquiao’s team its first loss after a triumphant PBA debut against Blackwater.
Pacquiao was a no-show as he’s now completely focused on his training for his fight with Chris Algieri in Macau in November.
The boxing icon, thus, was spared of a massacre.
The Kings exploited their advantages and utterly dominated the Sorento throughout except in the early goings in the second quarter where Ginebra relaxed a bit.
On a massive 24-2 tear, the Gin Kings took the half at 43-22.
Ginebra led by six, 17-11, in the first quarter but faltered at the onset of the next period, allowing Kia to surge ahead at 20-19.
As they regrouped, the Kings scored the next 13 points of the game before Alvin Padilla stopped the Sorento’s silence on a drive.
From a 32-20 count, the Kings made another crucial romp to stretch their lead to 21 at the turn.
The next two quarters was also all about Ginebra going all the way to scoring the most lopsided win in the season thus far.
The Kings topped the Texters’ 103-81 rout of the NLEX Warriors Friday.
Slaughter and Aguilar scored 16 points each with reserve center Jayr Reyes making 12 markers and high-leaping slasher Chris Ellis tossing in 10.
Former Ginebra player Reil Cervantes and Rudy Lingganay paced the losing team with 14 apiece. (SB)
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