LA Tenorio of Ginebra (light) vs Rico Maeirhofer of Barako (dark). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines — Barangay Ginebra San Miguel figured out Barako Bull’s zone defense just in time as the Kings came back to win, 90-83, in the 2014 PLDT myDSL Philippine Cup Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
LA Tenorio and Chris Ellis hit successive 3-pointers in the final 4:32 that busted the Energy’s defense before Japeth Aguilar completed a three-point play that moved Ginebra to within a game from clinching the top spot heading into the quarterfinals.
“At the start of the game we’re able to dictate the tempo but when they played zone defense we were rattled because we weren’t able to hit our shots,” said Ginebra coach Ato Agustin, whose team rallied from 10 points down, 60-70, early in the fourth quarter.
“But we stuck to our game plan and we got lucky the moment Emman got in. I never expected them to play zone all the way. Fortunately, we hit our outside shots down the stretch with LA and Ellis’ baskets,” added Agustin, referring to his backup point guard Emman Monfort, who hit two crucial treys in the last quarter.
Denok Miranda gave the Energy, who fell to 5-8, a 78-77 edge after converting a three-point play off Tenorio’s foul with 5:33 remaining before the Kings found the mark outside.
Ginebra, which squandered a double-digit lead it built in the first half, took an 83-78 cushion after Ellis’ trey with 2:21 to go but Miranda hit a tough turnaround jumper over Tenorio to beat the shot clock nearly a minute later to cut the Kings’ lead down to three.
Ellis set up Japeth Aguilar though on the lob pass off the break with Aguilar leaping high and taking the hit as well to convert it for an 86-80 lead with 37.0 ticks remaining that practically sealed Ginebra’s 10th win against two losses with only a game against GlobalPort left.
Top overall pick Greg Slaughter notched a double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds but had just a point each in the third and fourth quarter. Mark Caguioa also had 14 but didn’t play in the fourth period.
Aguilar had 13 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks while Tenorio and Ellis scored 11 apiece.
Miranda paced the Energy with 16 points and seven assists while JC Intal and Mick Pennisi chipped in 15 each.