The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel will figure in a best-of-three series in the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals after dismantling the playoff-bound GlobalPort Batang Pier, 116-98, Friday night at Cuneta Astrodome.
Ginebra are currently sixth in the team standings, and can go to as high as fifth depending on the result of the San Miguel-Magnolia match tomorrow. GlobalPort, meanwhile, will head into the quarters in eighth place.
“I thought we scored well, we hit shots, but I thought we created a lot of offense off our defense and that’s what we’re trying to do and so far last five games now,” said Ginebra head coach Tim Cone.
Justin Brownlee led the Gin Kings with 36 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. Japeth Aguilar supplied 19 points and four rebounds, Joe Devance had 16, while LA Tenorio finished with 11 points and 10 assists with three steals.
Scottie Thompson produced his second triple-double of the conference with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists.
The Gin Kings started to pull away in the second frame. From a slim five-point lead at the start of the period, Ginebra pulled off an 8-2 rally — ended by Aguilar’s basket — to post an 11-point cushion, 38-27, with 9:13 on the clock.
Ginebra’s lead rose to as high as 23, 81-58, again through Aguilar’s basket with less than five minutes left in the third.
The loss wasted GlobalPort’s well-deployed attack that saw five players score in double figures. Import Malcolm White nearly had a double-double as he produced 19 points and nine rebounds, along with two blocks.
Sean Anthony had 14 points. Stanley Pringle – who was coming off a 50-point game last June 22 against Columbian Dyip – was limited to just 14 points. But he made up for it with seven dimes, five boards, and four steals.
“I think the key to the game was how well Scottie played Pringle on defense. I felt he was outstanding,” lauded Cone. “I don’t remember Stanley getting a two-point shot. He only made maybe a transition lay-up. Generally all his shots came from the three-point line and Scottie made a great job keeping his touches, and that was the key.”
The Scores:
Ginebra 116 – Brownlee 36, Aguilar 19, Devance 16, Tenorio 11, Thompson 10, Slaughter 8, Ferrer 4, Chan 4, Mercado 3, Cruz 3, Caguioa 2, Manuel 0, Caperal 0, Mariano 0
GlobalPort 98 – White 19, Tautuaa 15, Pringle 14, Anthony 14, Taha 10, Grey 6, Espinas 6, Elorde 4, Guinto 4, Teng 3, Arana 3, Javelona 0, Flores 0
Quarterscores: 30-25, 58-45, 88-72, 116-98.
