Ginebra Kings dinomina ang Meralco Bolts para sa semifinals slot

Napanatili ng Barangay Ginebra ang momentum para tuluyang sibakin ang Meralco Bolts sa kanilang do-or-die setting nitong Linggo ng gabi, Pebrero 9, sa Ynares Center, Antipolo City, 94-87.

Tuluyan nang inangkin ng Gin Kings ang pang-apat at huling spot sa PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals.

Wala nang duda na ang haharapin ngayon at paghahandaan ng Gin Kings ay ang nasa top seed na Northport Batang Pier kung saan maglalaban ang dalawa sa best-of-seven series.

Kuntento si Gin Kings head coach Tim Cone sa naging resulta at performance ng laro ng kanyang koponan na aniya ay medyo nakakatakot sa simula dahil sa dikitang score laban sa Bolts sa first half ng laban, hanggang sa unti-unti na itong nag-iba ang takbo ng laro at pumabor sa Ginebra sa pagpasok ng third quarter.

"We were playing well on defense, and we just needed a spark. Playoff Justin showed up and gave us that spark. When we came back by one point at halftime, we were really confident that we would win this game. It was a little scary there in the beginning. They really handled us well, and I thought we were stiff to start the game," ani Cone. 

Nanguna sa panalo ng Ginebra si Justin Brownlee na nakapagtala ng 25 points, 10 rebounds, pitong assists, dalawang blocks at isang steal, habang mayroong 16 points, limang rebounds at dalawang assists si RJ Abarrientos. 

Ito ang ika-6th straight semi finals appearance ng Gin Kings.

The scores:

GINEBRA 94 – Brownlee 25, Holt 17, Abarrientos 16, Rosario 12, Thompson 7, Ahanmisi 6, J. Aguilar 6, Cu 5, Malonzo 0.

MERALCO 87 – Newsome 22, Quinto 16, Hodge 13, Banchero 12, Black 9, Mitchell 8, Rios 5, Almazan 2, Bates 0.

Quarter Scores: 19-22; 37-38; 64-58; 94-87.