Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ RJ Abarrientos during a PBA Commissioner’s Cup game against Phoenix Fuel Masters. –PBA IMAGES
Barangay Ginebra starved Phoenix in the final period on Friday night on the way to hacking out a 94-72 win in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The Gin Kings, buoyed by their defensive chops, held the Fuel Masters to just seven points in the payoff period at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila to score another win—their second in a packed schedule this month since their debut last Wednesday.
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“That’s basically our philosophy: We’re a defensive team first. So we’ll tolerate offensive mistakes. But in defense? More effort and knowledge. So our expectations are always higher defensively than we are offensively,” head coach Tim Cone said.
READ: PBA: Stephen Holt leads Ginebra past NLEX as Troy Rosario debuts
“We feel we’re gonna make shots on some nights and some nights we’re not gonna make shots and we don’t have control over that. But the effort and the focus we put on defense? We have control over that,” he went on.
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Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Scottie Thompson during a PBA Commissioner’s Cup game. –PBA IMAGES
RJ Abarrientos showed the way with 12 points, five rebounds, six assists en route to tabbing Player of the Game honors. Scottie Thompson topscored with 17 points as Japeth Aguilar chipped in 16, while Troy Rosario 14—his finest since joining the crowd darlings.
READ: PBA Finals: Tim Cone admits Ginebra got ‘little too satisfied’
Phoenix drew 20 points and 15 rebounds from import Donovan Smith, while Kenneth Tuffin and Jason Perkins tossed in 15 and 10 points, respectively, in the losing effort that had the club sliding to their fourth loss in as many games.
Barangay Ginebra will try to extend its winning ways against visiting Hong Kong Eastern this Sunday at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Phoenix, meanwhile, hopes to arrest its slide against undefeated NorthPort on Tuesday.
The Scores:
GINEBRA 94 – Thompson 17, J.Aguilar 16, Rosario 14, Abarrientos 12, Brownlee 10, Cu 8, Holt 5, Ahanmisi 5, Pinto 5, Mariano 2, Adamos 0, Pessumal 0, R.Aguilar 0
PHOENIX 72 – Smith 20, Tuffin 15, Perkins 10, Tio 7, Ballungay 7, Rivero 4, Manganti 4, Verano 3, Salado 2, Alejandro 0, Jazul 0, Camacho 0, Garcia 0, Soyud 0, Ular 0
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Quarterscores: 23-28, 47-48, 71-65, 94-72.
