It’s still Ginebra, after all
The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel have defended their Governors’ Cup throne successfully, as they overcame the Meralco Bolts’ challenge in the season-ending Game Seven, 101-96, Friday night in front of 54,064 people in the Philippine Arena.
The league’s most popular team can now boast 10 championships in their trophy room. Furthermore, this will be the very first time in the franchise’s 38-year history that they have won back-to-back titles.
“To be able to do it in front of 50,000 people, it’ll be so cool to tell that to Eric Spoelstra,” said coach Tim Cone, who has now won his 20th championship, making him the winningest coach in league history. “Grabe!”
LA Tenorio was hailed as the PBA Press Corps-Cignal Finals Most Valuable Player — his third award — as he led the Barangay with 26 points and four assists. Justin Brownlee provided 23 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
“Binigay namin ang lahat. Lahat kami nag-sakripisyo,” said Tenorio, who is also the 2016 Governor’s Cup Finals MVP. “Nagpapasalamat ako kay Lord sa strength na binigay Niya sa’min. Malaking tulong talaga yun.”
The Gin Kings threw staggering punches at the Orangemen early on, leaving the latter with no way to counter. Brownlee’s short jumper gave the Barangay their first 20-point cushion, 52-32, with 3:18 left in the first half.
But the Bolts showed signs of life come the game’s closing moments. Their 7-0 spurt — ended by Jared Dillinger’s booming trey — gave Ginebra a great scare as they closed within four, 96-100, with exactly 47 seconds left to play.
Luck was slowly creeping into Meralco’s side after the Barangay missed a handful of their shots, but their failure to secure those misses led to unwanted results. A split by Tenorio with 22 ticks to go widened Ginebra’s lead, 101-96.
Meralco tried to make another bucket one last time. The five Bolts on the floor were able to execute their play as Garvo Lanete went open in the right corner, but his three-pointer badly missed and his teammates failed to grab the board.
After that sequence, the Barangay were already jubilant, as their bid of repeating as Governor’s Cup champions had come into fruition.
Scottie Thompson also had a hand in the Gin Kings’ huge triumph, producing 14 points, nine caroms, and a game-high five steals. Greg Slaughter chipped in 12 markers, while Japeth Aguilar and Joe Devance finished with 10 points apiece.
Allen Durham made 26 points, 24 rebounds, and nine assists for Meralco. Jared Dillinger produced 20 points — his best in the series — on five triples, while Cliff Hodge supplied 14 markers along with seven boards.
The Barangay shot a blistering 51 percent from the floor, nailing 10 triples in the process. Their defense, moreover, forced Meralco into 16 turnovers, which they converted to 16 points. However, they lost in rebounds, 43-52.
The Scores:
Ginebra 101 – Tenorio 26, Brownlee 23, Thompson 14, Slaughter 12, Aguilar 10, Devance 10, Caguioa 4, Ferrer 2.
Meralco 96 – Durham 26, Dillinger 20, Hodge 14, Newsome 11, Caram 9, Hugnatan 7, Amer 6, Lanete 3.
Quarterscores: 27-19, 52-37, 81-64, 101-96.
