GINEBRA FINALLY NAILS ONE
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel snapped out of a stupor, terribly beating Philippine Cup champion San Miguel Beer in the paint and on transition plays for a 95-82 breakthrough triumph in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.
Using their superior inside strength to the hilt, the Kings battered the Beermen, 60-30, at the posts and, 16-4, on fastbreaks and thus notched a first win in the mid-season tourney following losses to the Meralco Bolts and the Barako Bull Energy.
Mike Dunigan produced 29 points and 13 rebounds while Greg Slaughter and Mark Caguioa added 18 and 17 markers, respectively, as the Kings scored a first victory in their return under the care of coach Ato Agustin.
“We’re finally able to do in the game what we’re doing in practice. In this game, nagawa namin yung gusto namin gawin sa depensa at lumabas din yung running game namin,” said Agustin.
Caguioa stressed they’re okay with Dunigan.
“Medyo hindi lang maganda ang laro niya in our first two games because of jet lag at dahil may dinaramdam sya noon. You see that he’s okay now,” Caguioa said of their highly touted import.
Dunigan was a big factor as they dominated San Miguel at the paint and dealt the Beermen a second straight loss.
San Miguel import Ronald Roberts led all scorers with 32 points but June Mar Fajardo and Arwind Santos were effectively neutralized.
Roberts also grabbed 14 rebounds and swatted away five shots, including three in the fourth quarter. The Kings, however, were already in firm control of the game then.
Dunigan, Caguioa, Mac Baracael, Billy Mamaril and Josh Urbiztondo gave Ginebra a good start, while Slaughter, Joseph Yeo and LA Tenorio provided sustaining power coming off the bench.
With a balanced game, the Kings took control most of the way, enjoying a 13-point spread, 36-23, in the second period and leading by as many as 16, 93-77, before wrapping up the win.
It’s also a first for the Gins after being eased out by the Talk n Text Tropang Texters in the second phase of the quarterfinals in the Philippine Cup.
The Kings avenged a 77-79 loss to the Beermen in their Philippine Cup duel when they were still under coach Jeff Cariaso. (SB)
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