GINEBRA NAILS 1ST WIN
A terrific scoring import, Orlando Johnson lit up the board once again Wednesday and finally chalked up a “W” for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings.
Johnson delivered a third straight game with at least 46 points, and Mark Caguioa and Josh Urbiztondo put in the needed help in the crunch as the Kings withstood the gritty Kia team, 105-98, for a first win in three starts in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
The Ginebra import piled up 47 points after a 50-point PBA debut followed by a 46-point game and also came up with 17 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and one steal to lead the Kings past a Kia side inspired by the return of playing coach Manny Pacquiao.
Caguioa and Urbiztondo contributed 16 and 11 points, respectively, including a combined output of 14 in the payoff quarter that helped Ginebra overcome sterling efforts of LA Revilla, Karl Dehesa and import Hamady N’Diaye for Kia.
Revilla, Dehesa and N’Diaye best typified the courage put up by the Carnival in the presence of Pacquiao on the Kia bench at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The boxing icon arrived in the venue midway through the second quarter to the roaring approval of the crowd.
But the Kings looked as inspired and energetic as the Carnival as the two teams engaged in a well-fought battle.
Johnson, Caguioa and Urbiztondo beat out the Carnival at endgame and thus Ginebra finally got on the winning track following back-to-back losses to Alaska and Talk n Text.
“We’re happy to get this first win regardless who’s the opponent. At this point, we’re just finding ways to win,” said Ginebra coach Frankie Lim.
“It’s just so hard as we’re lacking big men,” added Lim, whose team has been struggling minus giants Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar.
“Japeth is still day to day. And there’s no certainty either on Greg’s return. It will be easier for Orlando to make the shots once our big men are back,” Lim pointed out.
Johnson went 15-of-25 from the field and 15-of-23 from the stripe as he sustained his hot scoring ways in the PBA.
It was the hottest three-game scoring pace by any player in the league since Jerod Ward made 61 points, 52 then 48 with Mobiline in the 2001 Commissioner’s Cup.
And Johnson has just proved in this game that he can do a lot more than to put up the points.
He scored on a drive, blocked a shot by Alex Nuyles then set up Urbiztondo for a trey in an exciting run that gave Ginebra a 10-point lead at 69-59.
Revilla, however, came out smoking in the fourth quarter, fuelling a key run that sent Kia ahead at 82-81 and set the stage for the dramatic finish. (SB)
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