Ginebra ends slide, knocks Alaska off perch
LA Tenorio of Ginebra (light) vs Tony Dela Cruz of Alaska (dark). NUKI SABIO/PBA
MANILA, Philippines —Barangay Ginebra San Miguel stopped a three-game slide following a 101-92 win over Alaska in the 2015 PBA Philippine Cup Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
LA Tenorio led the Kings with his conference-best 22 points. He gave Ginebra a 10-point lead on a leaner in the fourth quarter and made sure they would sustain it with another timely basket to make it, 95-85, with 2:18 remaining.
“At certain point you just get tired of losing,” Ginebra head coach Jeffrey Cariaso said. “The guys are really determined tonight. I knew they will be ready facing a tough team.”
“A lot of people have been really hard on him. That’s only because of his status. But even with us being 5-4 and with the three-game losing skid, LA was playing his point guard position where he is initiating, he’s running our offense and getting guys shots. So I wasn’t worrying about him getting his shots,” Cariaso said of his chief playmaker. “LA’s next level is just knowing when your teammates are struggling and that’s when he has to take over.”
Tenorio took matters into his own hands when Ginebra needed that final push to keep Alaska at bay.
The Kings redeemed themselves after losing to the Globalport Batang Pier, 98-77, last Sunday.
“We were sort of desperate because we really want to make sure that we have a good chance of securing a top four,” added Cariaso. “I’m just happy with the way the guys played tonight.”
Mac Baracael added 19 points while Greg Slaughter had 12 points and 14 rebounds for the Kings, who improved to 6-4.
Calvin Abueva recorded game-highs of 24 points and 14 rebounds while JVee Casio tallied 18 points but their numbers weren’t enough as the Aces just weren’t able to solve the Kings’ offense.
Alaska moved to within six, 77-71, after a jumper by former Ginebra big man Eric Menk before Joseph Yeo and Tenorio pushed it back to 10. A 3-pointer by Tenorio gave the Kings an 84-73 lead with 8:28 left.
The loss had the Aces slipping to second place with the surging Rain or Shine Elasto Painters breathing down their necks just a half-game behind looking to steal a top two spot.
