Kings bounce back; Beermen triumph

SAN Miguel’s Sol Mercado grabs the head of Globalport’s Dior Lowhorn to prevent the import from scoring during last night’s game. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

MANILA, Philippines–Coming off its first loss in the PBA Governors’ Cup, Barangay Ginebra showed its meanest, most unforgiving form yet and let Barako Bull feel its wrath.

Starring LA Tenorio in the third quarter, the Gin Kings broke away from a tight game for the most lopsided win in the season-ending conference, a 98-70 mangling of the Energy that gave Ginebra a piece of the elimination round lead at Mall of Asia Arena.

The 5-foot-8 Tenorio scored 22 points—all in the first three periods—for his finest offensive game of the conference, towing Ginebra to leads as large as 32 for a 4-1 card that tied San Mig Coffee and Talk ‘N Text going into the final two weeks of the round.

“The best thing about tonight is us being able to bounce back,” said Ginebra coach Jeffrey Cariaso, whose Gin Kings lost, 90-102, to the Mixers on Sunday. “Tonight we showed character and improvement.”

Import Zaccheus Mason had 16 points and 14 rebounds and rookie Greg Slaughter added 11 points and and 11 boards to help doom the Energy to their fifth straight loss in a 1-5 card.

In the first game, San Miguel Beer got its Big 3 contributing heavily in the second half to pound out a come-from-behind 102-99 decision of Globalport.

June Mar Fajardo scattered 26 points, had a career-high 27 rebounds and Reggie Williams hit 23 and Arwind Santos had 18 and 11 boards as the Beermen roared back from 15 points down at the half to rise to 4-2.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Commissioner yesterday approved a trade that would send Globalport’s Yousef Taha and Ronnie Matias to San Mig Coffee for Yancy de Ocampo and third-string swingman Val Acuña.

The loss was the second straight heart-breaker for the Batang Pier, who dropped to 1-4. Globalport’s previous setback, which came at the hands of San Mig Coffee, also had the Batang Pier blowing a 20-point second quarter lead.

THE SCORES:

First Game

SAN MIGUEL BEER 102—Fajardo 26, Williams 23, Santos 18, Mercado 10, Kramer 7, Tubid 6, Lanete 6, Lutz 6, Maierhofer 0, Duncil 0, Chua 0.

GLOBALPORT 99—Lowhorn 38, Washington 14, Cabagnot 13, Romeo 11, Menk 6, Lingganay 5, Yee 4, Matias 2, Ponferada 2, Hayes 2, Salvador 2, Garcia 0.

Quarters: 24-27, 44-59, 81-82, 102-99

Second Game

BRGY. GINEBRA 98—Tenorio 22, Mason 16, Slaughter 11, Aguilar 10, Ellis 9, Helterbrand 9, Baracael 6, Reyes 5, Ababou 3, Mamaril 3, Knuttel 2, Faundo 2, Monfort 0, Urbiztondo 0, Caguioa 0.

BARAKO BULL 70—Wise 16, Pennisi 10, Thiele 8, Najorda 7, Jensen 6, Fortuna 5, Buenafe 5, Lastimosa 3, Miller 3, Miranda 3, Marcelo 2, Intal 2, Deutchman 0.

Quarters: 14-18, 33-33, 68-51, 98-70