MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings averted a massive fourth quarter collapse to escape with a 109-100 win over Blackwater Bossing in the 2021-2022 PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Leading by as much as 30 points in the third quarter, the Kings were stunned by a huge fourth period uprising of the Bossing behind Jvee Casio and Shawn Glover; they saw their advantage trimmed to 98-105.
The defending champions Kings, however, got two free throws from Justin Brownlee and an inside conversion from Japeth Aguilar to widen the lead to 109-100 with under a minute remaining.
Brownlee finished the match with 25 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Aguilar chipped in 18 markers. The Kings snapped its four-game slide to improve to 4-4 slate.
Earl Scottie Thompson flirted with triple-double with 16 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, while LA Tenorio and Christian Standhardinger ended up with 14 and 13 points, respectively, for the Kings.
Glover top-scored with 29 points, with 16 coming in the fourth quarter, while Casio connected eight triples to end up with season-high 27 points as the Bossing remained win-less in eight games.
In the first game, NLEX Road Warriors battled back from an early deficit to defeat Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in overtime, 109-100, for its third straight triumph for a 7-3 slate.
Down by as much as 22 points in the second period, the Road Warriors leaned on KJ McDaniels, Kevin Alas and Ilonggo Jericho Cruz in the second half to force an overtime at 97-all.
The Road Warriors opened the overtime with 8-0 scoring run behind JR Quiñahan, Cruz and Alas for a 105-97 lead. Two free throws by Celedonio Trollano sealed the win for NLEX.
McDaniels tallied 35 points and 13 rebounds, Alas had a near triple-double 15 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, while Cruz and Quiñahan chipped in 13 markers apiece for the Road Warriors.
BOX SCORE:
GINEBRA 109 – Brownlee 25, J. Aguilar 18, Thompson 16, Tenorio 14, Standhardinger 13, Onwubere 9, Chan 6, Tolentino 7, Caperal 1, Pinto 0, Ayaay 0, Enriquez 0.
BLACKWATER 100 – Glover 29, Casio 27, Amer 10, Ebona 10, Desiderio 7, McCarthy 5, Suerte 4, Nabong 2, Ayonayon 2, Baloria 2, Escoto 1, Amboludto 1, Melton 0, Washington 0, Escoto 0, Paras 0.
Quarterscores: 37-20, 63-41, 89-64, 109-100/PN
