Ginebra escapes virtual elimination
After having a hard time figuring out how to solve Star’s end game, the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel were able to breakaway late against the Star Hotshots, to take a 73-62 Game Three win, Monday evening at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Ginebra snapped Star’s eight game run while escaping virtual elimination as they are now on the board in the series.
“The good news is were back in the series right now. We’re not even but were back in,” Ginebra coach Tim Cone, who was clearly exasperated said.
Sol Mercado played big, leading Ginebra with 16 points, two triples coming in the final frame. And those two shots from long distance came at the crucial stretch of the final frame when Ginebra went on a 13-0 rally that broke the game wide open.
“Well, we hit some shots. I think that was the big difference maker,” Cone said about the rally as nine of the 13 points during that rally came from downtown. “That and Mark Caguioa coming off the bench.”
Ginebra lifer Caguiao scored two crucial baskets earlier in the frame, providing the spark for the said rally when Ginebra was down 59-60 5:24 remaining.
The two squads were tied twice and exchanged leads three times before Ginebra broke away.
“I thought this would still be a defensive battle but I didn’t think it would be like this,” Cone said about the game that saw Ginebra shoot 39 percent from the field while Star went just 29 percent. “Both teams were bleeding for points. It’s not bad basketball, it’s just really hard defense.”
The Hotshots though started slow, falling by as much as 17-4 as they could not buy a bucket. But behind the backcourt tandem of Mark Barroca and Justin Melton, together with Marc Pingris, Star was able to battle back in the third frame — getting a taste of the lead with 6:16 left in the quarter after a Mark Barroca leaner.
Japeth Aguilar added 15 points and 13 rebounds for Ginebra while Kevin Ferrer gobbled down 12 rebounds.
Joe Devance also played his first game back since January 29, 2017 due to suffering from plantar fasciitis on his left knee. He scored six points and grabbed six rebounds but did not play in the final frame.
“The coaching staff came up to me and said Joe is not available in the fourth. He’s getting shots right before the game. It’s incredible. I don’t know very many players that would do that,” Cone said about Devance.
Marc Pingris picked up a double-double for Star with 12 points and 18 rebounds. Melton added eight points.
The troika of Paul Lee, Mark Barroca, and Jio Jalalon though struggled from the field, shooting a combined 12-of-30 from the field.
Game Four is set to take place on Wednesday, February 15 at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The Scores:
Ginebra 73 – Mercado 16, Aguilar 15, Caguioa 8, Tenorio 7, Thompson 7, Ferrer 6, Devance 6, Cruz 3, Marcelo 3, Ellis 2, Mariano 0, Helterbrand 0, Mariano 0.
Star 62 – Pingris 12, Melton 8, Jalalon 7, Lee 7, Barroca 6, Sangalang 6, Simon 5, Maliksi 4, Reavis 3, Abundo 2, Dela Rosa 2, Brondial 0, Ramos 0.
Quarterscores: 21-10, 33-29, 50-51, 73-62.
