Ginebra repeats over Rain or Shine for 1-0 lead in quarterfinals
Joe Devance wanted no part of any overtime periods this time out as he helped Ginebra to an 88-80 Game 1 win over Rain or Shine in their 2018 PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals duel Monday at Mall of Asia Arena.
The 36-year-old forward triggered a telling 12-0 run in the middle of the payoff period that turned a close 70-69 Gin Kings lead to a decisive 82-69 advantage, capped off by a Sol Mercado trey with 4:49 to play.
Ed Daquioag and Don Trollano tried to keep the Elasto Painters within striking distance, chopping the deficit down to six, 84-78, in the final 1:49, but Devance was there to clean up Japeth Aguilar’s miss, 86-78, with 1:22 remaining.
LA Tenorio iced the victory from the charity stripe as he canned his freebies with 46.2 ticks left.
“Luckily, we had that stretch where we stretched in the lead in the fourth quarter and hung on,” said a relieved coach Tim Cone as Ginebra.
Devance posted 15 points, four rebounds and five assists to lead his side in only his third game back from a foot injury.
Tenorio unloaded 16 markers on a 4-of-9 shooting from downtown, to go with four boards and three assists, while Scottie Thompson flirted with a triple-double with 14 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists.
Japeth Aguilar also had 14 markers, nine boards, four dimes, and four blocks for the Gin Kings, who outlasted the Painters in triple overtime, 100-92 on Friday.
For Cone, the tough Game 1 was a perfect example of how hard the games are in the playoffs.
“It wasn’t a pretty game, but playoffs aren’t pretty. Let’s put our heads together and bang them, let’s see who can stand up, and that’s what we did tonight.”
Game 2 is on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Beau Belga led Rain or Shine with 17 points and five rebounds, while Ed Daquioag got 16 markers as both came off the bench.
The scores:
GINEBRA 88 — Tenorio 16, Devance 15, J. Aguilar 14, Thompson 14, Mercado 13, Ferrer 6, Mariano 6, Cruz 4, R. Aguilar 0, Caguioa 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 80 — Belga 17, Daquioag 16, Ahanmisi 10, Ponferrada 9, Nambatac 8, Trollano 6, Washington 5, Norwood 4, Tiu 3, Maiquez 2, Almazan 0, Borboran 0.
Quarters: 21-23, 44-43, 68-64, 88-80.
