MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings leaned on a third quarter onslaught to stave off Magnolia Hotshots, 105-83, in the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Justin Brownlee fell short of triple-double with 27 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds while Earl Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar had 14 each.
With the win, the Kings improved to 3-2 slate.
Holding to a slim 45-44 halftime score, the Kings had a strong start in the third period on outside conversions from LA Tenorio and Stanley Pringle to establish a 58-51 edge.
The Hotshots responded with a quick run to easily trim the deficit to 56-60 but three outside conversions by Negrense Jeffrei Chan and inside hits from Aguilar increased the Kings’ lead to 79-65.
Ginebra continued its scoring spree in the fourth quarter with conversions from Arthur Dela Cruz, Aljon Mariano and Brownlee. The lead reached its largest at 28 points.
As the defending champions Hotshots dropped to 3-4 slate, Rome dela Rosa top-scored with 18 points while Romeo Travis and Paul Lee had 17 and 14 markers, respectively.
In the first game, San Miguel Beermen got its shooting going in the fourth quarter. It walloped Columbian Dyip, 113-107, and get back on the winning track.
Trailing 59-70 midway in the third period, the Beermen leaned on conversions from Dezmine Wells and Terrence Romeo to finally take the lead at 94-93 on a basket by Alex Cabagnot.
The Beermen went on with its surge late in the fourth canto behind June Mar Fajardo, Cabagnot and Wells as the lead reached its largest at 111-99 with two minutes left.
Wells finished with 39 points, as Fajardo contributed double-double 19 points and 13 rebounds for the 5-1 Beermen.
Khapri Alston had double-double 38 points and 25 rebounds as the Dyip dropped to 3-4 record./PN
