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[av_heading heading=’Greg, Ginebra rip Magnolia, 89-78 ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings renewed its mastery of Magnolia Hotshots as it kicked off its PBA Philippine Cup campaign with an 89-78 win at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Gregory Slaughter led Kings with double-double 24 points and 12 rebounds. LA Tenorio had 15 markers while Jervy Cruz and Japeth Aguilar finished with 12 points each during the Christmas Day game.
Kings won its third consecutive Christmas Day win over the Hotshots franchise while it played without injured veterans Joe Devance, Solomon Mercado and Arthur dela Cruz.
“I’m a little surprised at how well we played,” said Kings head coach Tim Cone. “We were not perfect out there but we played with really good energy. It was like a perfect storm for us to get beaten but our guys figured out a way.”
Holding on to a slim 3-point edge early in the second quarter, Kings banked on inside hits from Slaughter and Aguilar to build a 7-point lead, which swelled 48-37 at the half with scoring from Slaughter.
Hotshots managed to keep the game close in the third 52-53 but Kings distanced anew with Aguilar converting inside and Tenorio making outside hits for a 66-56 lead after a fast-break by Ilonggo Juan Paolo Taha.
Kings was still up by 11 when Hotshots made its last run 73-80. Then Kings came up with baskets from Cruz, Aguilar and Slaughter to build its largest lead at 12 points.
Ian Sangalang had career-best 25 points to go along with 11 rebounds while Paul Lee and Peter June Simon had 16 and 15 points, respectively, for Hotshots, which dropped to 1-1./PN
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