PBA: Gin Kings nasungkit ang panalo laban sa Meralco Bolts

Nakuha ng Barangay Ginebra ang panalo laban sa Meralco Bolts kagabi, Enero 29, sa Smart Araneta Coliseum, 91-87, sa elimination round ng PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup. 

Dahil sa panalo ng Gin Kings ay tablado na nito ang Converge Fiberxers, na mayroong 8-4 win-loss record. 

Mas pinili ni coach Tim Cone na laruin lang ng ilan sa kanyang mga key players ang kanilang laban kung saan mayroon ng walong panalo at apat na talo ang Gin Kings habang ang Meralco Bolts naman ay mayroong pitong panalo at apat na talo. 

“This game was more of an opportunity for us to get ready for the playoffs, So that was basically our goal today. We'll just come out and play the game as best we can. And knowing that you're going to have limited minutes tonight and just do the best when you, with the minutes that you have,” said Cone. 

Pinangunahan ni RJ Abarrientos ang laban na nakapagtala ng 17 points, three rebounds, two assists, at isang steal, habang si Justin Brownlee ay nakagawa ng 15 points at itinanghal namang Best Player of the day si Stephen Holt na nakapagtala ng 13 points. 

Nangunguna ang Ginebra ng lima, 89-84, sa payoff period, subalit nagpakawala si Aaron Black ng krusyal na three-pointer para bumaba ang lamang ng bolts sa GIn Kings, 89-87. 

Gumawa naman si RJ Abarrientos ng dalawang shots at bumalik sa apat na puntos na abante, at habang mapanatili namang buhay ng Bolts ang kanilang momentum kahit pa hindi naipasok ni CJ Cansino ang kanyang attempt na four point shot.

Bigo man ang Meralco Bolts na ipanalo ang laban kagabi ay mayroon pa silang natitirang laro sa Biyernes, Enero 31, kung saan makakaharap nito ang Magnolia Timplados. 

Ayon naman kay Stephen Holt, nagbunga ang kanilang mga ginagawang pagsasanay para maihanda sila ni Coach Tim Cone sa Playoffs at isang susi rin ng kanilang panalo ay ang hard work ng kanyang mga teammate. 

“I mean, everything starts in practice with us, how we prepare, how we train, how we work hard, it's always next man up mentality with us. Whoever's on the, whoever's on the floor, those five guys have to stay connected, especially within our offense. And so I'm proud of the way the guys came into the game. They fought. You know, we wanted to play well towards the end, and obviously we got the win. And now we just have to continue this momentum into the playoffs,” ani Holt.

The Scores:

GINEBRA 91 – Abarrientos 17, Brownlee 15, Rosario 13, Holt 13, Malonzo 9, Pessumal 7, Ahanmisi 6, J.Aguilar 4, Thompson 2, R. Aguilar 2, Pinto 2, Tenorio 1, Cu 0, Mariano 0.

MERALCO 87 – Cansino 15, Almazan 13, Black 11, Hodge 9, Newsome 9, Quinto 8, Torres 5, Rios 5, Pasaol 4, Banchero 4, Batess 4, Reyson 0.

Quarter Scores: 21-22, 44-42, 68-59, 91-87.