The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s winning streak continues even after a lengthy three-week break, as they overcame a gutsy fightback by the Alaska Aces, 94-80, Saturday night at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
The Gin Kings have now collected their fourth straight win and improved their card to 4-1. The Aces, on the other hand, dropped to 0-6, extending their historic skid to 14 games now.
Justin Brownlee anchored the Barangay’s balanced attack with 22 points on 22 shots, alongside 10 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks. Joe Devance supplied 19 markers on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting.
Ginebra even went up by 22, 68-46, late in the third, but the Aces — through their pressing defense — rallied strong in the payoff period and evaporated the huge deficit to just nine, 87-78, after a Sonny Thoss hook shot with 2:02 left to play.
But the Gin Kings made sure that it would be Alaska’s final run. They outran the Aces 7-2 down the stretch — capped by an alley-oop connection between Japeth Aguilar and Scottie Thompson with 30 ticks left — to put the victory in the bag.
Ginebra’s twin towers Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar — who is fresh from the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup — made their presence felt with respective double-doubles. Aguilar had 15 and 11, while Slaughter had 12 and 13.
LA Tenorio also had 12 markers and made six dimes. Thompson flirted with a triple-double with eight points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.
The returning Calvin Abueva played as if he was the Aces’ reinforcement with 22 points and 13 rebounds. Sonny Thoss supplied 11 markers, while import LaDontae Henton scattered 10 points and seven caroms.
The Gin Kings shot 45 percent from the field, and their brilliant passing was on display once more as they dished out 29 assists.
The game’s halftime break saw Dondon Hontiveros being given appreciation in his hometown. It was a fitting ceremony for the Cebuano Hotshot, as this 2017 Governor’s Cup will be the last of his illustrious career.
Ginebra will look to sustain their streak against the Phoenix Fuel Masters on Wednesday, August 30, 7:00 PM at the Mall of Asia Arena, while Alaska will have another acid test against the San Miguel Beermen next Saturday, September 2, 5:00 PM in Angeles, Pampanga.
The Scores:
Ginebra 94 – Brownlee 22, Devance 19, Aguilar 15, Tenorio 12, Slaughter 12, Thompson 8, Mercado 3, Caguioa 2, Cruz 1, Ellis 0.
Alaska 80 – Abueva 22, Thoss 11, Henton 10, Banchero 8, Casio 7, Galliguez 6, Baclao 4, Pascual 4, Hontiveros 3, Manuel 2, Dela Cruz 2, Mendoza 1, Magat 0.
Quarterscores: 24-14, 46-31, 68-51, 94-80.
