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[av_heading heading=’Ginebra on top spot after win vs Meralco’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Tuesday, May 30, 2017
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MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings moved to a share of the top spot in the 2017 Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup with a narrow 90-89 victory over Meralco Bolts at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Reinforcement Justin Brownlee and LA Tenorio led the way with 22 points apiece for the Kings, which tied sister team Star Hotshots at No. 1 in the standings with an 8-2 win-loss slate.
Solomon Mercado chipped in with 14 markers, while Japeth Aguilar and Earl Scottie Thompson combined for 20 points for the Kings, which was also favored to clinch one of the two “twice-to-beat” incentives in the playoffs.
Trailing 52-46 early in the third quarter on Sunday night, the Kings went on a run behind Tenorio and Aguilar to come to within a single point. With the game tied at 69-all, Mercado unloaded five straight points for a 74-69 score heading into the fourth.
The game became tight in the final quarter, with both teams exchanging leads before the Bolts surged to an 86-84 lead. The Kings quickly tied it with an Aguilar basket before taking an 88-86 lead on a Joe Devance inside hit.
The Kings stretched the lead to 90-86 on two free throws by Tenorio but the Bolts closed the gap at 90-89 on a Clifford Hodge triple. The Bolts had a chance to snatch the win after missed free throws by Brownlee but they turned the ball over.
“They took us kind of out of what we like to do,” said Kings head coach Tim Cone. “They did a really good job of controlling the tempo, making it a grind out game. We just had one more shot than they did.”
Baser Amer finished with 22 points, while reinforcement Alex Stepheson added 18 markers for the Bolts, which suffered its third consecutive defeat to finish its elimination round campaign with a 7-4 win-loss mark./PN
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