MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings clawed back from 18 points down to defeat San Miguel Beermen, 73-71, in Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals on Wednesday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Down 25-43 midway through the second period, the Gin Kings played catch up almost the entire game before they took the lead at 70-69 on a three-pointer by Stephen Holt.
The Beermen regained the lead at 71-70 via a layup by Jaymar Perez, but the Gin Kings surged ahead at 72-71 on two free throws by Jeth Troy Rosario before Holt split his charities with a second left in the game.
Japeth Aguilar led the Gin Kings with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Earl Scottie Thompson and Jamie Malonzo had 16 and 14 markers, respectively, as they took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
“We just battled tonight,” Gin Kings head coach Tim Cone said in a post-game interview. “We did not play great tonight, we did not play great defensively, but we just fought it out.”
Perez top-scored for the Beermen with 21 points, Juan Miguel Tiongson and Jericho Cruz added 12 markers apiece, while June Mar Fajardo had six points and 19 rebounds while being bothered by calf injury.
Meanwhile, TNT Tropang 5G showed its steadiness in the endgame to fend off Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 98-91, in Game 1 of their semis series.
With the Painters threatening to within 74-75, the Tropang 5G got a two-pointer and four-point shot from Roger Pogoy and an inside hit and a triple from John Paul Erram for an 86-76 lead.
The Painters responded with a basket from Adrian Nocum and two free throws from Andrei Caracut, but another basket from Pogoy and free throws from Calvin Oftana sealed the win for the Tropang 5G.
Pogoy led the way with 28 points, including two three-pointer, Erram added 16 points and nine rebounds, while Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser contributed 13 markers in the win./PN
BOX SCORE:
GINEBRA 73 – J. Aguilar 18, Thompson 16, Malonzo 14, Rosario 7, R. Aguilar 6, Holt 4, Abarrientos 2, Pinto 2, Gray 2, Adamos 2, Ahanmisi 0, David 0.
SAN MIGUEL 71– Perez 21, Tiongson 12, Cruz 12, Trollano 9, Fajardo 6, Ross 5, Cahilig 3, Lassiter 3, Brondial 0, Tautuaa 0, Calma 0.
Quarterscores: 19-29, 37-45, 56-60, 73-71.
