LA Tenorio’s end-game heroics were more than enough to lift the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel past the Meralco Bolts, 76-86, in Game Two of the 2017 Governors’ Cup Finals, Sunday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Ginebra now own a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, and will have a chance to move to a win away from defending their crown on Game Three on Wednesday, October 18, 7:00 PM, still at the Big Dome.
“We took a big punch from them early in the game and kind of survived that and we were able to/make it into a possession-by-possession game,” said coach Tim Cone. “No one really got up in front, then we had a real good closing kick.”
Tenorio finished with 14 points, with 10 coming in the fourth quarter. But it was import Justin Brownlee who captained the Barangay with 19 points on 44 percent shooting, alongside 13 rebounds and seven assists.
The Barangay were down, 69-75, past the midway mark of the final frame, until a Brownlee-led 10-0 scoring spree — capped by Scottie Thompson’s freebies — wiped out the deficit and put them ahead, 79-75, with 1:44 to go.
Ranidel De Ocampo’s split freebies stopped Meralco’s bleeding. They had chances to cut the Gin Kings’ lead further, but Jared Dillinger missed his own charities barely a second after De Ocampo’s trip to the foul line.
As a result, Ginebra took advantage on the other end, and Tenorio nailed a cold-blooded three-pointer from the top of the key — with the shot clock winding down — to widen their lead to six, 82-76, with 1:07 remaining.
“It’s an amazing shot and that was the thing that turned the whole game around right there,” lauded Cone of that booming trey. “It was anybody’s game until he hit that shot… That was the biggest shot of the game, really the biggest shot.”
The Bolts tried to convert immediately after regaining possession, but Tenorio stripped the leather away from Baser Amer. Tenorio was then sent to the line to freeze the clock, and he calmly sank his foul shots, 84-76, with 55 ticks left.
Freebies by Brownlee in the closing seconds sealed the much-needed win for Ginebra.
“It’s always nice to get an early lead in the series. It’s always nice to do that,” added Cone on the victory, “But doesn’t guarantee you anything.”
Japeth Aguilar provided significant contributions for Ginebra with 16 points, eight rebounds, a steal, and a block. Joe Devance chipped in 10 markers, while Thompson flirted with a double-double of nine points and nine boards.
Allen Durham did it all for the Orangemen, who shot a dismal 37 percent in the loss, with 25 points, 22 rebounds, and seven dimes. De Ocampo and Amer comprised his supporting cast with 10 points apiece.
The Scores:
Ginebra 86 – Brownlee 19, Aguilar 16, Tenorio 14, Devance 10, Thompson 9, Mercado 6, Caguioa 6, Ferrer 3, Slaughter 3.
Meralco 76 – Durham 25, Amer 10, De Ocampo 10, Hodge 9, Newsome 8, Lanete 6, Dillinger 5, Tolomia 3, Caram 0, Hugnatan 0.
Quarterscores: 18-24, 40-37, 57-62, 86-76.
