GINEBRA SPOILS BOWLES RETURN, DROPS PUREFOODS
With a rare start, fourth-string playmaker Emman Monfort responded to the challenge and helped Barangay Ginebra San Miguel get back on track with a 96-87 win over Purefoods Star and returning import Denzel Bowles in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday night.
Minus the injury-stricken Jayjay Helterbrand and Josh Urbiztondo, Monfort started ahead of LA Tenorio at the point spot and lived up to the role, delivering mind-boggling all-around numbers of nine points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Inspired by Monfort’s showing, Michael Dunigan, Greg Slaughter, LA Tenorio and Japeth Aguilar also dished out productive performances as the Kings regained an even win-loss card at 3-3 for sixth place behind Meralco (5-1), Talk n Text (5-1), Rain or Shine (4-2), Globalport (4-3) and Purefoods (4-3).
“I have to give it to the guys. They did a good job especially on defense, and they were able to execute our plays. Emman deserved special mention,” said Ginebra coach Ato Agustin.
“Solid talaga at focus sa game. Humabol ang Purefoods pero sabi ko ‘don’t panic.’ They were able to make a run pero nakabawi kami,” Agustin also said.
Monfort was there on the floor with Dunigan, Slaughter, Tenorio and Mark Caguioa as they regained their bearing after blowing away a 16-point spread, and won with plenty to spare in the end.
The game became a duel of spurts in the second half, and the Kings pulled through in coming through with a crucial counterattack after the Hotshots rallied to draw even at 78-all.
Dunigan delivered the killer blows in firing away 12 of his 22 points in the closing minutes.
Even with the arrival of Bowles, the Hotshots stayed on a slump minus the injury-stricken James Yap.
Bowles piled up 31 points that went to naught with Purefoods’ third straight loss after four successive wins.
With a balanced scoring of the Ginebra starters and second group, the Kings sat on a 45-38 cushion at the turn.
The Kings stretched a four-point lead to seven at halftime with Tenorio, Joseph Yeo and Aguilar combining for 15 of the team’s 25 points in the second period.
They led by 11 in that stretch at 38-27 on a three-pointer by Yeo.
The Kings’ bench outscored their Purefoods counterparts, 17-3, in the first 24 minutes of play.
Ginebra regained a double-digit spread, 48-38, as Mac Baracael drained a trey to start the third quarter. And the Kings led by as many as 16, 68-52, before closing the third at 70-56.
Mark Barroca, Joe Devance and Bowles worked on a run the carried them back in the fight midway through the fourth. (SB)
for Purefoods, which suffered its third defeat in seven starts and is now in fourth spot. (JL)
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