The effects of Ginebra’s loss to the Phoenix Fuel Masters exactly seven days ago were visible in the Gin Kings’ game against the NLEX Road Warriors, Sunday evening. Fortunately for the Barangay, they were able to find their identity and rally back, taking a 90-80 win at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
Ginebra are now tied with Globalport, TNT, and Phoenix in the standings at 6-5. The Road Warriors finish the conference in last place with a dismal 2-9 slate.
“This conference has been a struggle for us,” admitted Ginebra head coach Tim Cone. “Most likely, we will finish as the seventh seed. Good thing we’ll miss San Miguel until the finals.”
And just like their conference, it was a struggle for Ginebra during the first moments of the game as the Road Warriors rained a barrage of threes in a 15-4 run that gave NLEX a game-high 17-point lead, 37-20, just two minutes into the second quarter.
“Well, it looked like that we forgot to play basketball. We looked like high school kids trying to play against professionals early in the game,” Cone lamented.
Behind the duo of LA Tenorio and Scottie Thompson, the Gin Kings were able to make a counter 15-4 rally to close in on NLEX.
“LA and Scottie gave us a huge boost. That kind of propelled us during halftime,” Cone added. “I also told them that we got to remember that we know how to play this game, we are a good team.”
Tenorio finished the game with a game-high 30 points to go along with nine rebounds and four assists, while Thompson flirted with a triple-double with 11 markers, eight rebounds, and nine assists.
Ginebra then locked down on defense the rest of the way. A top-of-the-arc triple by Tenorio gave Ginebra the lead for good, while free throws by the returning Japeth Aguilar with 7:25 left in the game extended Ginebra’s lead to 15 points, 87-72.
Joe Devance chipped in nine of his 19 points during the third frame.
“Japeth basically played one-handed. He did not want to shoot but hopefully he can get in full strength the next five days,” Cone said about Aguilar, who missed Ginebra’s last game after suffering a hyper-extended elbow.
Aguilar attempted just four field goals, finishing the game with just seven points and nine rebounds.
NLEX could only get the lead to as low as seven points, as turnovers plagued the Road Warriors in the end game.
Ginebra out-rebounded NLEX, 53-36. In addition, they were able to knock down five more triples.
Kevin Alas and Enrico Villanueva paced NLEX with 14 points each. Bradwyn Guinto added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Scores:
Ginebra (90) – Tenorio 30, Devance 19, Mercado 13, Thompson 11, Aguilar 7, Marcelo 4, Taha 2, Ellis 2, Cruz 2, Ferrer 0, Caguioa 0.
NLEX (80) – Alas 14, Villanueva E. 14, Guinto 10, Laneta 8, Lastimosa 7, Villanueva J. 7, Khobuntin 7, Taulava 6, Rios 5, Camson 2, Gotladera 0, Baracael 0.
Quarterscores: 28-20, 46-42, 72-64, 90-80
