MANILA – Paul Garcia stepped up for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in the fourth quarter as they edged New Taipei City Kings, 91-87, in the Macau Invitational Basketball Challenge on Wednesday night at the Tap Seac Sports Pavilion in Macau.
Down 68-70 early in the fourth quarter, the Gin Kings got two free throws from Japeth Aguilar, a three-pointer and a perimeter basket from Paul Garcia to cut the deficit to 73-75.
The Gin Kings continued their run behind baskets by Aguilar for an 83-82 edge. After the Kings took the lead for the last time at 84-83, Ginebra answered with a conversion from Stephen Holt and a triple from Rhon Jhay Abarrientos for an 88-84 lead.
The Kings made their last push via a three-pointer, but Garcia attacked the basket to increase Ginebra’s lead to 90-87 before Holt secured the victory with a split free throw with nine seconds left.
Garcia, a third-round selection by the Gin Kings in the PBA Season 49 Rookie Draft but has yet to sign with the squad, finished with seven points, all in the fourth quarter, for Barangay Ginebra.
Aguilar led the way for the Gin Kings with 23 points, Abarrientos contributed 20 markers, while Holt and George Isaac Go ended with 14 and 11 markers, respectively, in the victory.
This is the Gin Kings’ first game with Abarrientos, Go, and Holt, all are part of the squad’s blockbuster offseason trade that send Christian Standhardinger, Stanley Pringle, and Mark Nonoy to Terrafirma Dyip.
The Gin Kings played without injured Earl Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, and Jeremiah Gray, while Justin Brownlee has yet to join the squad as he is still with the Pelita Jaya in Indonesia Basketball League.
The Kings, on the other hand, were also without former NBA star Jeremy Lin and his younger brother Jordan in the exhibition game./PN
BOX SCORE:
GINEBRA 91 – J. Aguilar 23, Abarrientos 20, Holt 19, Go 11, Garcia 7, Cu 5, Pessumal 3, David 3, Tenorio 0, Adamos 0, Pinto 0, R. Aguilar 0.
NEW TAIPEI CITY 87 – Chen 20, Shu 19, Lin 14, Lin 12, Su 8, Gardner 5, Chien 5, Chun 4.
Quarterscores: 29-24, 48-46, 68-68, 91-87.
