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Barangay Ginebra opens a big lead before holding off a late Rain or Shine rally to keep their PBA Philippine Cup unbeaten streak alive.
Once again in Manila, Philippines, Arvin Tolentino hit a three-pointer in the third quarter to help Barangay Ginebra beat Rain or Shine, 90 to 85, in the PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Tolentino seeded all of his 11 points in the pivotal third period as the Gin Kings built a sizable lead before they staved off a late Elasto Painters surge in the final frame for a 2 to 0 start.
Rain or Shine took a meager 47 to 45 lead only to have Tolentino launch a 27 to 8 run with three triples to give Ginebra a whopping 72 to 55 advantage.
After being outscored by 27 to 16 in the fourth quarter, Japeth Aguilar scored 8 of his game high 23 points to help the Gin Kings hold on to the victory.
Scottie Thompson had 16 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks to go along with Christian Standhardinger’s 13 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 steals. Aguilar also finished with 7 rebounds and 2 blocks.
Mike Nieto led the Elasto Painters with 15 points and 5 rebounds, this happening despite the fact that they were without top shooter Rey Nambatac and seasoned veteran Gabe Norwood.
In a couple of startling events, due to a bizarre practice accident, Nambatac received a lower abdomen contusion, while Norwood suffered a laceration on his side. Something both players were not expecting yet prepared for as professional athletes.
Despite losing by as many as 21 points in the last salvo, Rain or Shine – depending on its young core of Nieto, Gian Mamuyac, Andrei Caracut, and Santi Santillan – did not surrender. Given defeat was simply not an option for this band of warriors on the hard court.
The Ginebra lead grew to 79 to 58 after an Aguilar layup, but the Elasto Painters responded with a 24 to 8 run highlighted by back-to-back triples from Nieto and Santillan to pull within 5 points.
Rain or Shine, however, ran out of time, and the Gin Kings won with two free throws from Aguilar and LA Tenorio. “We’d get out to a large lead, soften up a little bit, and they’d come back.” “We’ve got to straighten it up,” Ginebra coach Tim Cone stated.
“We played Rain or Shine who had a lot of young guards and who played without their star, and so, we should have dictated the game a little bit better than we did.”
He continues.
Belga clocked in 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Caracut and Mamuyac put up 12 and 10 points, respectively, for the Elasto Painters, who dropped to 1 to 2.
The Summary of Scores
Barangay Ginebra scores 90 – J. Aguilar 23, Thompson 16, Standhardinger 13, Tolentino 11, Pringle 9, Tenorio 9, Caperal 4, Mariano 4, David 1, Chan 0, Pinto 0, Onwubere 0.
Rain or Shine scores 85 – Nieto 15, Belga 14, Caracut 12, Mamuyac 10, Santillan 9, Ponferada 7, Torres 7, Demusis 4, Asistio 3, Ildefonso 2, Borboran 2, Clarito 0.
Scores per quarter: 31-16, 45-44, 74-58, 90-85.
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