Ginebra guards come to Slaughter, Aguilar’s aid in Meralco win
Through its first four games, Barangay Ginebra has had no shortage of production from its twin towers Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar but the lack of output from the rest of the team has led to a poor start.
Raring to get some help and ease much of the burden from their starting big men, the Kings drew a collective effort on Tuesday night and the result was an 89-64 whipping of the Meralco Bolts before a packed crowd in Biñan, Laguna.
“We got good contributions really for the first time from our guard core. Mark (Caguioa) and Nico (Salva) and LA (Tenorio) and then our guards played really well tonight,” Ginebra head coach Tim Cone told reporters with a hoarse voice as he was down with colds.
“They were under control, didn’t make many turnovers and it was a good all around performance. Very nice bounce back game from our San Miguel debacle,” Cone added.
Two nights ago, Slaughter and Aguilar combined for 42 points and 20 rebounds but Chris Ellis was the only other player to hit double-digits in scoring and the Kings got bamboozled , 100-82, by the San Miguel Beermen, who in contrast had five players in double-figures.
“We were disappointed about that. Guys came back strong. Hopefully this can get us going a little and give us a little momentum going into our next game,” said Cone, whose squad takes on Mahinda next on Sunday at Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Slaughter and Aguilar continued their torrid start with the 7-foot center putting up 18 points and 14 rebounds while the athletic forward collecting 18 points and six rebounds while being saddled by foul trouble. But this time, they didn’t have to carry the team on their shoulders.
Nico Salva played his best game yet with 11 points and five rebounds, Joe Devance added eight points and three assists while LA Tenorio, Mark Caguioa and Sol Mercado chipped in seven each.
“I just had opportunities to score from the outside [tonight] because they were clogging the inside,” Salva wrote in a text message to INQUIRER.net as he deflected the credit to his coaches and teammates.
It was a breakout performance by the third-year swingman out of Ateneo after only scoring a total of nine points and grabbing three rebounds through three games this season.
“Everyone also did a great job of playing within the system and moving the ball. I also just trusted the work I put in everyday knowing that my hard work would payoff with God’s grace.”
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
