Ginebra stopped Meralco from its tracks, 110-96, to end a two-game slide in the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup, Friday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Kings began to lead by double digits in the third quarter before pulling away for good in the final chapter behind Jamie Malonzo, Tony Bishop, and Scottie Thompson on their way to ending the Bolts’ fiery four-game winning streak.
“We’re really challenged by Meralco being that they’re one of the top teams,” said head coach Tim Cone postgame. “They’ve come in with a big winning streak and they even played well in the EASL (East Asia Super League).”
“So, I think that the guys were really challenged to come out and play against them tonight,” the league’s winningest mentor added.
Maverick Ahanmisi top-scored for the reigning champions with a game-high 25 points in the victory that also served as a fitting welcome to Thompson.
Out for three games due to a knee injury, the 2022 MVP finished with 21 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists as he had a hand in the decisive 14-3 assault to establish a commanding 100-82 lead with 5:31 left to play.
“One of the big things is getting this guy back. He changes the way we play with his hustle and desire on both sides of the floor,” Cone said of Thompson.
Malonzo and Bishop were crucial in that breakaway as well, and the lengthy wingmen would go on to finish with 17 and 12 points, respectively.
Christian Standhardinger also registered 21 points, alongside 12 rebounds and seven assists in the victory that hiked their win-loss record to 5-3, joining San Miguel Beer at fourth in the team standings.
Now Ginebra will turn its attention to TNT (4-4) as the corporate rivals duke it out on Christmas Day at 6:30 p.m., still at the Big Dome.
Top-scoring for Meralco in the loss, on the other hand, was Zach Lofton with 23 points, although he had to bleed for it after being defended by Thompson, Ahanmisi, and Malonzo alternately. He was averaging 42.0 points prior.
“Him (Thompson) and Mav and Jamie were tag-teaming off their import. And they all did a great job,” Cone lauded as Lofton only shot 7-of-20 from the floor, including a 2-of-10 clip from beyond the arc in the 42 minutes he played.
Cliff Hodge had 17 points and eight rebounds. Aaron Black made 14 points, while Allein Maliksi and Bong Quinto added 10 apiece in the loss.
The Bolts won’t have much of a holiday break as they still have to focus on their EASL stint, where they will be playing back-to-back home games.
Coach Luigi Trillo’s wards will face Seoul SK on December 27 before taking on New Taipei on January 3. Both games will be at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Meralco will then resume its PBA campaign on January 6 against the top-seeded Magnolia in an out-of-town affair in Iloilo City.
The Scores:
Ginebra 110 – Ahanmisi 25, Thompson 21, Standhardinger 21, Malonzo 17, Bishop 12, Pringle 7, J.Aguilar 7, Tenorio 0, Onwubere 0.
Meralco 96 – Lofton 23, Hodge 17, Black 14, Maliksi 10, Quinto 10, Newsome 9, Almazan 6, Pascual 4, Banchero 3, Torres 0, Bates 0, Rios 0.
Quarterscores: 24-25, 53-50, 84-75, 110-96.
