MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings relied on a second quarter breakaway to defeat Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, 109-89, in the 2022-2023 PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Christian Standhardinger had a near triple-double 28 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, while Justin Brownlee added double-double 18 points and 11 rebounds. The Gin Kings improved to 6-2 win-loss slate.
Earl Scottie Thompson contributed 16 markers, Jamie Malonzo and Von Pessumal chipped in 14 points apiece, while Jeremiah Gray added 11 points for the defending champions Gin Kings.
From a slim 24-21 lead late in the first quarter, the Gin Kings broke away behind inside hits by Standhardinger and outside connections from Pessumal, Thompson and Sidney Onwubere to build its largest lead at 59-30.
The Fuel Masters showed some life in the second half as they trimmed the deficit to as low as 15 points but three-point hits by Pessumal and Gray restored a 20-point margin for the Gin Kings.
Du’vaughn Maxwell top-scored with 22 points, while Sean Manganti and Jayvee Mocon had 15 and 11 markers, respectively, as the Fuel Masters saw their three-game winning run snapped to drop to 4-6 slate.
In the first game, Allein Maliksi drilled a go-ahead three-pointer before being ejected as Meralco Bolts pulled off a 132-129 overtime win against Converge FiberXers. Both teams now has 6-4 slate.
Down 127-128 after a basket by Converge’s Alec Stockton, Maliksi surged the Bolts ahead at 130-128 with a three-pointer with 30 seconds left in the extension.
Maliksi, however, was called for a flagrant foul penalty two for chokehold on FiberXers’ center Kevin Barkley Eboña, who was also assessed with a flagrant foul penalty one for his hard hit on Maliksi.
Ilonggo Anjo Caram drilled two free throws for the Bolts to make it 132-128 before Jeron Teng splits his freebies for Converge, which still had a chance to tie it but Jerrick Balanza missed his triple try.
Maliksi finished the game with 12 points for the Bolts, while KJ McDaniels led the way with 33 points and Aaron Black chipped in conference-high 28 markers.
SIDE NOTES: Danny Ildefonso made his anticipated PBA return after eight years for the FiberXers in their game against the Bolts. The 46-year-old logged in four minutes and finished scoreless with one rebound and one turnover.
BOX SCORE:
GINEBRA 109 — Standhardinger 28, Brownlee 18, Thompson 16, Malonzo 14, Pessumal 14, Gray 11, Onwubere 3, Pringle 3, Pinto 2, Mariano 0, David 0, Dillinger 0, R. Aguilar 0.
PHOENIX 89 — Maxwell 22, Manganti 15, Mocon 11, Tio 9, Serrano 9, Garcia 6, Perkins 5, Muyang 4, Camacho 2, Adamos 2, Alejandro 2, Jazul 2, Lojera 0, Lalata 0, Go 0.
Quarterscores: 28-21, 59-30, 85-69, 109-89./PN
