GINEBRA CLOSES IN ON LEADERS
Blackwater just won’t quit but Barangay Ginebra San Miguel won’t give an opening.
Wing players Mac Baracael and Mark Caguioa put together 37 points while big men Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar combined for 18 markers and 24 rebounds as Barangay Ginebra San Miguel bounced back from a loss with a 100-91 win over the gritty Blackwater side in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Tuesday night.
“They were tough. They’re a second-half team and they proved it tonight. But our guys stayed firm, stayed tough,” said coach Jeff Cariaso as his chargers shrugged off Blackwater’s never-say-die-stand and grabbed solo third in the standings with a 3-1 win-loss card.
With their gutsy effort, the Elite couldn’t shake off the Kings, staying winless in four starts in the pros.
“We gave away 54 points in the second half in our last game. This time, we gave away 48. It’s still too much and I’m happy we got the win. We needed it badly,” said Cariaso.
It’s a crucial win giving the Kings the needed momentum going to a key match versus the Purefoods Star Hotshots Sunday.
The Ginebra veterans provided the team a big lift facing the young squad of former Ginebra stalwart Leo Isaac.
“Mark was awesome. When we needed someone to score, he’s there. Mark is Mark and that’s why he’s vital,” said Cariaso of Caguioa who produced 18 points on 9-of-14 field shooting.
“Jayjay Helterbrand didn’t score much but he’s solid at the point. That’s what you can get from the veterans,” Cariaso also said, lauding the Ginebra playmaker who logged five points, two rebounds and two steals.
The Kings dominated the boards with Slaughter and Aguilar leading the job.
Aguilar collected 13 rebounds and scored eight points while Slaughter got 11 caroms and put in 10 markers. Baracael, Billy Mamaril and JayR Reyes added at least six boards each.
But despite a big disparity in rebounds, 66-41, Blackwater stayed behind Ginebra, its charge led by Paul Artadi, Bam Gamalinda, PJ Erram and Bryan Faundo.
Artadi tossed in career-highs of five triples and a total of 21 points while Gamalinda, Erram and Faundo added 15, 11, and 10 points, respectively.
Blackwater was still hanging in there before Slaughter scored in the paint and then Helterbrand rifled in a trey to spark a run that stretched the Kings’ lead to 16 at 93-77.
The Kings led by 17 earlier at 57-40 but the Elite fought to within six, 66-72, late in the third. (SB)
The scores:
GINEBRA 100 – Baracael 19, Caguioa 18, Slaughter 10, Tenorio 8, Aguilar 8, Forrester 6, Mamaril 6, Yeo 6, Reyes 6, Helterbrand 5, Urbiztondo 3, Ellis 3, Brondial 2, Monfort 0.
BLACKWATER 91 – Artadi 21, Gamalinda 15, Erram 11, Faundo 10, Menor 7, Rodriguez 6, Cawaling 6, Timberlake 4, Nuyles 4, Laure 4, Ballesteros 3, Salvacion 0, Austria 0, Tiongson 0.
Quarterscores: 33-20, 59-43, 75-68, 100-91
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