Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Ginebra continues mastery over Magnolia in Christmas Clasico


Barangay Ginebra just showed how scary they can be in the 2018 Philippine Cup, deploying a balanced attack to thwart Magnolia Hotshots, 89-78, in their Christmas Clasico bout Monday night at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

Aside from kickstarting their all-Filipino campaign on the right foot, Ginebra has also improved their Christmas Games record to 10-1, with their last three wins coming into the hands of the Hotshots.

“I’m a little surprised at how well we played. We weren’t perfect out there but we played with really good energy,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone. “It was like a perfect storm for us to get beat tonight but our guys figured out a way.”

Greg Slaughter spearheaded the attack with 24 points on top of 12 rebounds and four blocks. LA Tenorio displayed all-around brilliance as he finished with 15 points, eight assists, and five boards, while Japeth Aguilar scored 12.

The Barangay turned a slim 66-62 lead from early in the final frame to a favorable 76-64 cushion with 4:56 remaining in the said quarter, all thanks to a 10-2 scoring spurt punctuated by Jervy Cruz’ mid-range jumper.

Magnolia though tried to come back and were able to close within distance a few times, but Ginebra’s four straight points — ended by Aguilar’s alley-oop from Tenorio — that lifted them to an 86-76 lead were enough to seal the deal.

Forward Cruz also supplied 12 points off the bench, while the versatile Scottie Thompson showed his wares once more as he filled the stat sheet with six markers, nine rebounds, and seven assists for the Barangay.

#ReadMore  Tim Cone hailed as PBA Press Corps Outstanding Coach of the Bubble

Ian Sangalang carried much of the load for the now 1-1 Hotshots with 25 points along with 11 rebounds. Lee failed to replicate his 30-point outing in their season opener and made just 16, while PJ Simon addee 15 markers.

Ginebra will next play GlobalPort Batang Pier on January 7, 2018, Sunday, at 6:45 PM, while Magnolia will take on Kia Picanto on January 10, 2018, Wednesday, at 4:15 PM. Both games will be held at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

The Scores:

Ginebra 89 — Slaughter 24, Tenorio 15, J. Aguilar 12, Cruz 12, Caguioa 7, Ferrer 7, Thompson 6, Mariano 4, Taha 2, R. Aguilar 0.

Magnolia 78 — Sangalang 25, Lee 16, Simon 15, Pingris 6, Barroca 4, Dela Rosa 4, Gamalinda 4, Herndon 2, Melton 2, Ramos 0, Brondial 0, Pascual 0.

Quarterscores: 22-17, 48-37, 66-60, 89-78.

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

Even while undergoing cancer treatment, LA Tenorio remains active in worthy projects outside of basketball. Just recently, he helmed the pilot episode of San...

Basketball

Ian Sangalang is simply thankful for another opportunity to play the game after being filled with doubts about his future due to a thyroid...

Basketball

New guy Abu Tratter fit in like a glove as Magnolia began its PBA On Tour stint with a 117-83 rout of Blackwater, Sunday...

Basketball

San Beda head coach and TNT deputy Yuri Escueta will use the PBA on Tour games to help hasten the development of his Red...

Basketball

Making the game much faster. That is the goal of new rules set to be tested during the upcoming PBA on Tour games beginning...

ESports

TNT continued to show the same level of success in competitive sports outside of basketball. After taking the grand slam in PBA 3×3 and...

32nd SEA Games

Chot Reyes will have to work with an entirely new crew for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games. June Mar Fajardo has yet to train...

Basketball

Magnolia big man Ian Sangalang has been summoned by the Philippine Basketball Association on Monday regarding his alleged participation in a ‘game-fixing’ scandal orchestrated...

Advertisement