ANTIPOLO – Christian Standhardinger and Jamie Malonzo starred as Ginebra fended off San Miguel, 121-112, to take Game 1 of their PBA Governors’ Cup best-of-five semifinal series, Friday at the Ynares Center here.
The BPC frontrunner fired a season-high 33 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, while the sophomore produced 27 points, six boards, and four dimes as they joined hands in the fourth quarter to save the reigning champs.
As the Beermen tied the game up through a 15-0 blast, the two created a 7-0 run for the 102-95 lead with 7:51 left, and the others would help keep the Kings stay in front on the way to gaining a headstart in the race-to-three affair.
“They came rumbling back at us. We played well. We won the game, so I guess we played well overall, but we had some bad stretches where we didn’t play well, and played a little flat,” offered head coach Tim Cone.
The Barangay indeed played inspired basketball as it was their first game since LA Tenorio revealed that he’s diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer. The decorated guard still joined the team as part of Cone’s staff.
“You know, it can be kinda corny [to say that] we’re doing this for LA — of course, we’re doing this for LA. It doesn’t need to be said. I don’t think it needs to be repeated,” said Cone of his long-time on-court extension.
“He honors us by our presence. Hopefully we can honor him by continuing to play hard, and playing his image,” added the 65-year-old.
Justin Brownlee came through as well for Ginebra with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists, together with two steals and two blocks.
Reigning MVP Scottie Thompson made 15 points, seven boards, and the same amount of dimes, while rookie Jeremiah Gray added 12 markers as all five starters finished in double figures for the crowd darlings.
Game 2 is on Sunday, 6:45 p.m., in the same battleground, with the Kings surely looking to go 2-0 to move closer to a Finals return.
Cam Clark, meanwhile, led San Miguel with 26 points and nine rebounds in their 22-point comeback that ultimately fell short.
CJ Perez supplied 23 points on a night he got five fouls, while Marcio Lassiter added 20 markers on four three-pointers for the Beermen.
The Scores:
Ginebra 121 – Standhardinger 33, Malonzo 27, Brownlee 24, Thompson 15, Gray 12, Pringle 7, Pinto 3, Pessumal 0.
San Miguel 112 – Clark 26, Perez 23, Lassiter 20, Cruz 13, Tautuaa 11, Manuel 10, Bulanadi 3, Enciso 3, Herndon 3, Brondial 0, Ross 0.
Quarterscores: 25-22, 62-47, 95-80, 121-112.
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The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
