Ginebra notched its breakthrough win in the PBA On Tour at the expense of slumping Phoenix Super LPG, 95-89, Wednesday night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Ahead by just a point late in the third frame, Kim Aurin, Nard Pinto, and Aljon Mariano connived to open up a double-digit Barangay lead entering the fourth, capped by Von Pessumal’s triple, 78-68.
Phoenix inched to within four with 7:45 left in the game thanks to two conversions from the line by Javee Mocon, 78-82.
However, that was the closest the Fuel Masters could get as Pinto and Mariano were there to stabilize Ginebra down the stretch.
“Sinabi lang namin sa dugout we just have to be better than our last game so yung focus lang muna namin ay yung sarili namin,” said Ginebra assistant coach Richard Del Rosario.
Phoenix had the ultimate chance of cutting the deficit to a just three with Larry Muyang alone on the fastbreak but he went up for a dunk and missed at the 2:14 mark.
The Barangay upped their record to 1-2 to leave TNT as the lone winless team, while the Fuel Masters continued to run out of gas, falling to their third straight loss at 2-3.
Pinto was outstanding with 22 points, seven assists, and four rebounds, while Mariano made a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Raymond Aguilar maintained his fine play with 15 points and six rebounds, while Joshua David shone with 15 points and seven rebounds while being a game-high plus-11.
RJ Jazul top-scored for the Fuel Masters with 16 points but shot 6-of-16 from behind the arc. Reden Celda backstopped him with 17 points on 15 attempts.
Ginebra will be back on Saturday at Batangas City Coliseum when it meets Northport, while Phoenix will have its next game on June 23 against Terrafirma.
The Scores:
Ginebra 95 – Pinto 22, Mariano 18, David 15, R. Aguilar 15, Gumaru 6, Onwubere 6, Aurin 6, Pessumal 4, Gray 3, Cu 0, Salcedo 0
Phoenix Super LPG 89 – Jazul 18, Celda 17, Mocon 14, Muyang 13, Lalata 11, Soyud 8, Atienza 3, Fetalvero 3, Alejandro 2, Rangel 0
Quarterscores: 26-26, 47-47, 78-68, 95-89
