MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings survived a tough challenge from Rain or Shine Elasto Painters for a 107-102 escape in the 2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Leading by as much as 13 points in the third quarter, the Gin Kings were stunned by a huge fourth quarter run by the Painters behind Andrei Caracut and Leonard Santillan to find themselves behind at 90-91.
The Gin Kings went on a run behind Japeth Aguilar, Earl Scottie Thompson, and Tony Bishop Jr. for a 100-94 lead, but the Painters rallied back behind back-to-back treys by Caracut and Santillan to cut it to 99-100.
Ginebra answered with a three-pointer from Maverick Ahanmisi and an inside hit from Christian Standhardinger for a 105-99 lead. Rain or Shine made its last push at 102-105 on a Caracut triple before Standhardinger sealed the win with a layup.
Bishop tallied 25 points and 12 rebounds, while Ahanmisi flirted with a triple-double of 21 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists as the Gin Kings improved to a 2-1 win-loss slate.
Standhardinger had a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Japeth Aguilar, Earl Scottie Thompson and Jamie Malonzo ended with 13, 12 and 11, respectively, for the defending champions.
Caracut finished with a career-high of 32 points, including four three-point conversions, DaJuan Summers added a double-double of 25 points and 12 rebounds, while Santillan contributed 12 points as the Painters dropped to 0-4.
Meanwhile, Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters continued its strong start after a come-from-behind 111-106 victory over Blackwater Bossing. Phoenix rose to 3-1 record, while Blackwater dropped to 1-3.
Down 60-66 early in the third quarter, the Fuel Masters went on a run behind Johnathan Williams, Javee Mocon and Ricci Rivero to take a 77-73 lead after a three-pointer from RJ Jazul.
From a seesaw battle early in the fourth, the Fuel Masters created separation from the Bossing behind connections by Jason Perkins, Williams and Rivero for a 103-95 advantage.
Perkins top-scored for the Fuel Masters with 23 points, Williams had a near triple-double numbers of 21 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, while Jazul contributed 19 markers./PN
BOX SCORE:
GINEBRA 107 – Bishop 25, Ahanmisi 21, Standhardinger 19, J. Aguilar 13, Thompson 12, Malonzo 11, Pringle 6, Pinto 0, Pessumal 0, Cu 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 102 – Caracut 32, Summers 25, Santillan 17, Mamuyac 8, Asistio 6, Clarito 6, Norwood 6, Belga 2, Demusis 0, Belo 0, Nambatac 0.
Quarterscores: 24-26, 49-44, 75-69, 107-102.
