Gin Kings repel Bolts to near semis seat
MANILA, Philippines -- Barangay Ginebra is now one step closer to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals after pulling away late against the Meralco Bolts, 100-92, Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Gin Kings led by a dozen in the first half and lost it, but they ultimately made timely baskets to take Game 1 of their best-of-three series.
Scottie Thompson stuffed the statsheet with 23 points, seven rebounds, six assists, four steals and a block. Justin Brownlee added 23 points of his own, to go with nine boards and two dimes.
A triple by Chris Newsome pushed Meralco ahead, 87-85, with 7:57 remaining in the game as the two teams traded buckets.
But Thompson scored seven points in a game-changing 11-2 run that pushed the Gin Kings up by seven points, 96-89, with 5:21 left.
The returning Akil Mitchell then split his freebies to halt the blitz, 90-96, but RJ Abarrientos answered with a deuce to keep Meralco at bay, 98-90.
Newsome tried to put the Bolts back, but a putback layup by Japeth Aguilar set the final score, 100-92, with 2:58 left.
The two teams could not buy baskets down the stretch, which ultimately sealed Ginebra’s win.
Aguilar chipped in 19 points and nine rebounds for the Gin Kings, who also had 14 points from Abarrientos.
Newsome carried the load for Meralco with 20 points, four rebounds and four assists on an efficient 8-of-10 shooting. Mitchell added 19 markers, 14 boards, six dimes and three steals.
The Gin Kings led by 12, 29-17, in the second quarter after a triple by Thompson.
But Meralco stormed back and tied the game up at 36 with a triple by Jansen Rios, which capped a furious 19-7 run.
Ginebra then went up by 10 anew, 50-40, but a 7-0 blast to end the first half put them at just a three-point deficit, 47-50. This then set the tone for the nip-and-tuck second half until the Gin Kings’ late run.
Ginebra will try to punch a ticket to the semifinals on Friday, 5 p.m., at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.