Meralco routs Ginebra for 2nd Govs’ Cup win

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MANILA – Meralco gained a measure of vengeance as it frustrated defending champion Barangay Ginebra 93-78 last night in the Governors’ Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Bolts withstood the early stand of the rejigged Gin Kings – in a rematch of last year’s Governors’ Cup finals – before pouncing on its opponent, which was still adjusting to the return of Greg Slaughter, to surprisingly cruise to its second straight win.

Allen Durham flexed his muscles as he scattered 30 points and 24 boards and missed a triple-double by just one assist, while Jared Dillinger and Chris Newsome also delivered for Bolts, which joined NLEX and Phoenix on top of the standings.

“We haven’t beaten Ginebra this season, so it was more about just getting a wing tonight,” Bolts coach Norman Black said as his team won against Gin Kings for the first time since Oct. 12, Game 3 of the last Governors’ Cup Finals.

Bolts trailed 30-19 late in the first quarter but found its groove in the middle quarters where it outscored Gin Kings 51-25 to build a lead as many as 19 points and complete a 30-point turnaround.

LA Tenorio led Gin Kings with 16 points built around three treys, along with two assists, but import Justin Brownlee was held to just 13 points on 5-of-15 shooting, against six boards and three assists and two steals – typifying the uncharacteristic play of his squad.

Earlier, Star Hotshots weathered Blackwater Elite’s second-half run for a decisive 103-86 victory.

After seeing their 11-point first-half lead trimmed down to 3, Peter June Simon came alive offensively in the fourth, leading the 17-6 scoring run to catapult Star to its first win of the season.
Simon finished with 20 points, with 8 coming in the final quarter, for Hotshots, which tied Rain or Shine Elasto Painters with 1-0.
Import Cimeon Bowers and Allein Maliksi added 15 points apiece while Ian Sangalang and Rafael Reavis had 14 and 11 points, respectively, for Hotshots, which played sans Jean Marc Pingris and Jio Jalalon.

“I just reminded the players before the game that we cannot underestimate Blackwater,” said Hotshots head coach Chito Victolero. “Just like with our other opponents, we prepared hard for this game.” (SPIN.ph, with Adrian Co/PN)
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