PBA PH Cup: Ginebra, San Miguel Beer get 1-0 edge in q’finals

San Miguel Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo tries his best to protect the ball while being bothered by TNT KaTropa’s Ryan Reyes. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings bucked a slow start to score an 86-75 victory over Magnolia Hotshots in Game 1 of the 2019 Honda PBA Philippine Cup best-of-three quarterfinals last night (April 6, 2019) at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. PBA PHOTO

MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings bucked a slow start to score an 86-75 victory over Magnolia Hotshots in Game 1 of the 2019 Honda PBA Philippine Cup best-of-three quarterfinals last night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Gregory Slaughter led the way with double-double 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Arthur dela Cruz added 14 markers while Japeth Aguilar and Earl Scottie Thompson had 12 points each for the Kings.

Trailing by one after the first 12 minutes, the Kings went on a strong surge in the second period behind Earl Scottie Thompson and Dela Cruz for a 37-20 edge. The Hotshots attempted to come close but hits from the Kings gave them a 44-27 halftime edge.

Ginebra went on to build its largest lead at 52-31 early in the third on inside hits from Aguilar and Slaughter but Magnolia answered with a run to come to within 47-60 but the Kings managed to pull away anew at 70-53 on inside hits by Slaughter.

The Hotshots made its last push and was able to come to as close as 72-81 on a triple by Rodney Brondial but a basket from Thompson and free throws by Aguilar and Dela Cruz sealed the victory for the Kings.

Paul Lee finished with 15 points; Ian Sangalang had 14 markers and eight rebounds, while Brondial contributed 11 markers for the Hotshots, which is hoping to force a do-or-die Game 3 on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, June Mar Fajardo came up with crucial baskets as the San Miguel Beermen cruised to an 80-78 win over TNT KaTropa and move a win closer to the semifinals round.

With the KaTropa on top 78-75, Fajardo scored back-to-back inside hits to put the Beermen on top 79-78. He also converted a free throw in the next play to increase the lead to 80-78 before defending TNT’s Roger Pogoy’s three-point try.

Fajardo finished the match with 15 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks, while Terrence Romeo played against his former team for the first time and finished with 15 points for the four-time defending champions Beermen.

Marcio Lassiter and Alex Cabagnot submitted 15 and 12 markers, respectively, for the Beermen.

Jeth Troy Rosario led the KaTropa with 23 points, while Roger Pogoy added 16 markers./PN

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