GINEBRA STILL UNSCATHED
After getting past Zaccheus Mason for a tough bucket underneath the basket early in the second period, Dominique Sutton flexed his muscle for everyone to see, flaunting his supposed awesome strength.
Mason had other things in mind.
The Barangay Ginebra import silently worked for timely hits in the second half, pouring in 15 of his 22 points as the Kings gutted out an 84-76 win over the Air21 Express to remain the only unbeaten team in the PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Tuesday night.
Sutton also made 22 markers but only two in the second half.
“It wasn’t easy the whole game but somehow we got the win. It’s nice to be able to grind out this win,” said Ginebra coach Jeff Cariaso.
“Going into the game, I know it’s gonna be tough. Credit to the boys, they’re willing to struggle and push through,” Cariaso also said.
Mason outdueled Sutton when it mattered most and Greg Slaughter also showed up Asi Taulava as Ginebra topped Air21 in a showdown of unbeaten teams and thus seized the solo lead in the tourney.
Slaughter beat Taulava in a battle for a crucial rebound with a minute left to play and came through with a three-point play to cap yet another double-double game helping propel the Kings to a third straight win.
Japeth Aguilar, Jayjay Helterbrand, Mac Baracael and LA Tenorio also provided some lift as the Kings kept their perfect record under their new coach.
Horrid shooting from the stripe didn’t help the Express as they tumbled down to joint second place with the Alaska Aces, the San Miguel Beermen and the San Mig Coffee Mixers at 2-1.
Taulava muffed eight charities, Sutton seven and the whole Air21 team converted just six of 22 foul shots.
In the last two minutes, the Express bungled no less than seven free throws.
Air21 was still within striking distance at 75-79 with a little over a minute left to play. But then Mason scored off Sutton, Taulava split from the stripe then Slaughter got away with the big three-point play making it 84-76.
The Express actually dominated the early goings of the low-scoring ball game, leading by seven at 27-20.
But the Kings patiently hung in there before unleashing their attack. (SB)
The scores:
GINEBRA 84 – Mason 22, Slaughter 12, Aguilar 10, Helterbrand 9, Baracael 8, Tenorio 8, Caguioa 6, Reyes 4, Ellis 3, Monfort 2, Ababou 0.
AIR21 76 – Sutton 22, Cardona 14, Yeo 11, Taulava 9, Borboran 7, Ramos 5, Burtscher 3, Atkins 3, Camson 2, Villanueva 0.
Quarterscores: 16-17, 34-37, 58-53, 84-76
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