MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings relied on a strong start before holding off also-ran Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, 100-93, in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Japeth Aguilar top-scored with 17 points. Earl Scottie Thompson chipped in double-double 14 points and 14 rebounds. Aljon Mariano had conference-high of 13, while Nard John Pinto and Stanley Pringle had 10 markers each for the Gin Kings.
Barangay Ginebra closed out the eliminations round with 8-3 win-loss slate and will determine their opponent in the best-of-three quarterfinals series after the matches tonight.
Barangay Ginebra cruised to a 22-14 start behind early conversions from Mariano and Pinto. Phoenix responded with a huge rally in the second period to cut the deficit to 45-47 at the half.
Gin Kings got its acts together in the second half with conversions from Negrense Jeffrei Chan and Sidney Onwubere for a 76-66 lead. Phoenix cut it to 84-90 but late baskets from Thompson and Aguilar sealed the win for Ginebra.
Jason Perkins finished with 17 points, Sean Anthony contributed 16 markers, while Tyler Tio and Larry Muyang had 13 and 12, respectively, as the Fuel Masters ended their campaign with 3-8 slate.
In the first game, Meralco Bolts (7-4) assured themselves of a top-six seed in the quarterfinals round following a wire-to-wire 105-89 domination over the winless Terrafirma Dyip (0-11).
The Bolts made its presence felt early as the surged to a 27-16 start behind conversions from Chris Newsome, Raymond Almazan and Allein Maliksi. It later went up to 58-43 after a triple by Maliksi.
The Dyip attempted to come close in the second half at 75-81 but the Bolts answered back with timely conversions from Newsome and Aaron Black as the lead reached its largest at 19.
Newsome tallied 19 points, six rebounds and five assists, Black added 16 markers, Almazan and Maliksi finished with 14 points apiece, while Kier John Quinto contributed 13 for the Bolts.
BOX SCORE:
GINEBRA 100 – J. Aguilar 17, Thompson 14, Mariano 13, Pinto 10, Pringle 10, Chan 9, Standhardinger 8, Onwubere 7, David 4, Tenorio 4, Caperal 4.
PHOENIX 93 – Perkins 17, Anthony 16, Tio 13, Muyang 12, Serrano 7, Melecio 6, Jazul 5, Garcia 5, Porter 5, Lalata 3, Rios 2, Robles 2.
Quarterscores: 22-14, 47-45, 76-66, 100-93./PN
