MANILA – Christian Standhardinger mauled his former team NorthPort Batang Pier with a buzzer-beating basket to let Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings clinch an 87-85 victory in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup last night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
With the score tied at 85-all, Standhardinger was at the right place and time to put back a missed layup by teammate Stanley Pringle to surge the defending champion Ginebra to a 2-2 win-loss slate.
Standhardinger tallied 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Pringle top-scored with 24 points, Lewis Alfred Tenorio added 20 points, seven assists, and five rebounds for the Kings.
Trailing for most of the game, the Kings posted a 77-76 lead in the second half on free throws by Japeth Aguilar. Three-pointers from Earl Scottie Thompson and Tenorio and a two-pointer by Aguilar gave Ginebra its largest lead at 85-78.
The Batang Pier responded with an inside hit by Slaughter, a three-pointer by Robert Bolick, and two free throws by Sean Anthony to force a deadlock at 85-all with 31 seconds left.
Bolick converted four triples to finish with 23 points, Slaughter had a double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Jerrick Balanza and Anthony have 14 and 11 points, respectively, as the Batang Pier dropped to 1-3.
In the second game, TNT Tropang Giga (2-0) did not show any rust from two weeks of inactivity as it toppled the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (3-2), 79-69.
Clinging to a 22-19 after the first quarter, the Tropang Giga notched a 43-33 halftime advantage behind Glenn Khobuntin, Jeth Troy Rosario, and Jayson Castro. TNT continued its onslaught in the second half as the lead ballooned to 79-63 on two free throws by Mikey Williams.
Rosario and Pogoy led the Tropang Giga with 13 points each, while Jayvee Mocon bannered the Painters with 22 points and five rebounds.
In the first game, Magnolia Hotshots (4-0) leaned on a fourth-quarter uprising to take down Terrafirma Dyip (0-3), 105-83. Ian Sangalang got 18 points for the Hotshots, while Andy Mark Barroca added 16 markers.
BOX SCORE:
GINEBRA 87 – Pringle 24, Tenorio 20, J. Aguilar 15, Standhardinger 13, Dillinger 5, Thompson 5, Caperal 5, Chan 0, Ayaay 0, Enriquez 0, Tolentino 0.
NORTHPORT 85 – Bolick 23, Slaughter 16, Balanza 14, Anthony 11, Malonzo 9, Onwubere 8, Grey 2, Rike 2, Doliguez 0, Lanete 0, Elorde 0./PN
