Ginebra edges Rain or Shine for first win
Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Barangay Ginebra pulled off a stunner over Rain or Shine for its first win in the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup Sunday night at Mall of Asia Arena.
The Gin Kings improved to 1-1 while the Elasto Painters failed to take solo claim of the top spot as they slipped to 2-1.
Ginebra played catchup for the most part of the second half but a spirited run in the fourth quarter saw the Gin Kings take the lead when Sol Mercado and Joe Devance exchanged jumpers for a 76-74 edge with less than three minutes left.
Mercado and Devance’s jumpers were part of Ginebra’s 11-0 run that closed the game out for the Gin Kings.
“These are the games we need to get over, we need to play,” said Ginebra head coach Tim Cone. “We don’t want to start 0-2, we just want to try and make it tough for them defensively, and in terms of that we’ve achieved our goal.”
Ginebra made life miserable for the Elasto Painters limiting them to a disastrous 26 percent shooting, 26-of-100, and an even worse 6-of-41 shooting from long range
Rain or Shine also faltered in the fourth quarter when it scored just 12 points and missed its last 12 attempts.
Japeth Aguilar led the Gin Kings with 23 points and 13 boards while Devance added 13 points and eight boards.
Raymond Almazan led Rain or Shine with 13 points and 15 boards while Jay Washington had a near double-double of seven points and 17 rebounds.
The Kings still won despite going 0-of-14 from the 3-point area.
