MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings kicked off its title defense in the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup with a hard-earned 96-84 win over Columbian Dyip last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Justin Brownlee led the way with 34 points, 20 rebounds, five assists, three steals, and three blocks.
Gregory Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar chipped in 14 markers apiece for the Kings (1-0).
Still fresh from their Commissioner’s Cup title run and missing some key veterans due to injuries, the Kings struggled to pull away from the struggling Dyip with the match knotted at 66-all early in the fourth period.
The Kings then slowly created separation behind Brownlee and Aljon Mariano for a 75-68 advantage.
The Dyip rallied to within five but a trey by Earl Scottie Thompson and inside hits by LA Tenorio and Aguilar increased the Kings’ edge to 82-72.
The Dyip made its last push on inside baskets by Akeem Wright. The Kings, however, went for the kill with conversions from Aguilar and Thompson, and Brownlee’s triple for its biggest advantage at 91-75.
Rashawn McCarthy finished with 18 points while Jerramy King and Eric James Camson added 17 and 14 markers, respectively, for the Dyip.
With this latest defeat, the Dyip remained winless in four matches.
In the first game, Phoenix Fuel Masters vented its ire on the struggling TNT KaTropa with a 112-82 annihilation to surge to fourth place in the standings with 3-1 win-loss slate.
Trailing 4-7 early in the match, the Fuel Masters went on a huge run behind Jason Perkins, Eugene Phelps and Matthew Wright for a 20-7 edge.
It grew further to 61-23 with two minutes before the halftime break after a basket by Rafael Joey Jazul.
The Fuel Masters pulled away further in the second half with Calvin Abueva, Joseph Eriobu and Justin Chua contributing on offense for its largest lead at 100-59 on a trey by Wright.
Phelps and Wright finished the match with 22 and 16 points, respectively, while Phelps contributed double-double 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Fuel Masters.
Alfrancis Tamsi finished with 14 markers for the KaTropa (1-4).
BOX SCORE:
GINEBRA 96 – Brownlee 34, Slaughter 14, Aguilar 14, Thompson 10, Mariano 8, Tenorio 7, Chan 7, Ferrer 2, Caguioa 0.
COLUMBIAN 84 – McCarthy 18, King 17, Camson 14, Wright 12, Reyes 5, Escoto 5, Khobuntin 5, Gabriel 4, Sara 4, Ababou 0, Tubid 0, Lastimosa 0, Cabrera 0, Cahilig 0.
Quarterscores: 23-18, 41-36, 61-61, 96-84. /PN
