Ginebra downs TNT in Game 1
Game Today (City of Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex) 7 p.m. – Star vs Meralco Game Tomorrow (Batangas City Coliseum) 7 p.m. – Ginebra vs TNT KaTropa
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel turned the table on TNT KaTropa last night with an all-around performance that resulted in a 12194 victory and the early lead in their best-of-five semifinal series in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ginebra’s offense was consistent all throughout even as it defense slowly made TNT work for its points to draw first blood in the series and avenging its elimination round loss to the same team more than a week ago.
The KaTropa never got themselves going after tipoff, a far cry from their 121-92 rout of the Gin Kings last Sept. 23 when they made 16 triples. Instead they shot 8-of-26 from rainbow country.
Ginebra can only hope for another similar performance tomorrow when it seeks a 2-0 lead at the Batangas City Coliseum.
“They beat us up in the elims and we got ‘em today,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.
Import Justin Brownlee hit 11 of his 21 points in the first and Joe Devance made nine of 19 in the same quarter, allowing Ginebra to take a 31-22 lead, before Greg Slaughter asserted his presence in the paint on his way to 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four blocks to widen the gap in the third.
The Gin Kings led by a high of 34 points, 113-79, during garbage time with the likes of seldom-used vets Mark Caguioa, Jervy Cruz and Aljon Mariano getting playing time.
TNT had a rough evening, shooting just 40 percent from the field while committing 27 fouls much to the frustration of coach Nash Racela.
KaTropa import Glen Rice Jr. and Jayson Castro, who had 34 and 28 points against Ginebra in the elims, typified their team’s dismal showing.
Rice shot 8-of-20 from the field and turned the ball over seven times despite 26 points and 10 rebounds while Castro had six turnovers that put his 16-point, seven-assist numbers for naught.
Meanwhile, the Meralco Bolts look to move one step closer toward a return trip to the finals and hurdle what many see as another defensive battle against the Star Hotshots tonight in Game 2 of their own semis series at the City of Sta. Rosa MultiPurpose Complex in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
Meralco survived numerous adversities Sunday to pull off a 72-66 victory over Star two nights ago at the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan, Laguna – its third comeback victory in a span of seven days.
But coach Norman Black is preparing for another defensive struggle that many see as a norm rather than the exception. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. GINEBRA 121 – Brownlee 21, Devance 19, Slaughter 16, Caguioa 13, Aguilar J. 10, Tenorio 10, Cruz 10, Thompson 7, Mercado 7, Mariano 4, Taha 4, Helterbrand 0, Aguilar R. 0.
TNT KATROPA 94 – Rice 26, Castro 16, Pogoy 12, Tautuaa 7, Nuyles 6, Carey 6, Rosario 5, Williams 5, Semerad 5, Hernandez 3, Reyes 2, Chua 1, Lingganay 0, Seigle 0, Golla 0.
Quarters: 31-22; 60-48; 9575; 121-94.