MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings overcame an early deficit to defeat NLEX Road Warriors, 95-86, in Game 1 of the 2021-2022 PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals last night at SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Trailing 26-39 midway in the second quarter, the Kings went on a huge run behind LA Tenorio, Earl Scottie Thompson and Justin Brownlee to come to within 43-45 at the half.
Barangay Ginebra continued its run in the third quarter and got a huge lift on back-to-back three-pointers by Arvin Tolentino to build a 70-60 advantage.
The Road Warriors countered with a run in the fourth quarter to tie the score at 78-all but the Kings went on a rampage behind Brownlee, Thompson and Tenorio. The lead reached its largest at 15.
Brownlee finished the game with 27 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and four blocks. Tenorio chipped in 19 markers as the Kings took a 1-0 edge in the best-of-five series.
Thompson had double-double 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Tolentino and Christian Standhardinger ended up with 11 and 10, respectively, for the defending champions.
Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots also drew first blood in their own Final Four series after a come-from-behind 94-80 triumph over Meralco Bolts.
Down by as much as 17 points in the opening half, the Hotshots slowly clawed its way back to take a 52-48 edge in the third quarter on baskets by Paul Lee and Jiovani Jalalon.
Magnolia widened the lead to 64-56 but Meralco clawed its way back to within 64-66 before the Hotshots got timely baskets from Calvin Abueva and Mike Harris as the lead reached its largest at 14 points.
Harris led the way with double-double 26 points and 16 rebounds, Jalalon added 15 markers, while Lee and Abueva chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively, for the Hotshots.
BOX SCORE:
GINEBRA 95 — Brownlee 27, Tenorio 19, Thompson 15, Tolentino 11, Standhardinger 10, Chan 7, J. Aguilar 4, Pinto 2, Onwubere 0, Caperal 0, Enriquez 0.
NLEX 86 — Clark 30, Alas 17, Semerad 8, Quiñahan 8, Trollano 6, Paniamogan 5, Nieto 4, Chua 3, Rosales 3, Varilla 2, Ighalo 0.
Quarterscores: 23-29, 43-45, 70-64, 95-86./PN
