Gins outclass Star Hotshots; Batang Pier up

LA TENORIO of Ginebra keeps possession even as Mark Barroca of Purefoods steps on the Gin King’s foot in last night’s match at Smart Araneta Coliseum. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Starting hot and never easing up, Barangay Ginebra tore defending champion Purefoods to shreds, 89-66, and tie for second in the PBA Philippine Cup before more than 18,000 fans at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Gin Kings opened with 10 straight points and never allowed the Star Hotshots to come within four starting the second quarter, winning a second straight game to rise to 4-1 overall and keep idle San Miguel Beer company at second, just half-a-game behind the leading 4-0 card of Alaska.

Globalport notched its first winning streak under Pido Jarencio earlier by shooting down Blackwater, 87-72, for a 3-2 record. The Elite lost for the fifth straight game and remained in the cellar.

Ginebra’s intensity was just unmatched throughout that not even the return of former two-time MVP James Yap to the Purefoods roster could help the Star Hotshots play with the same level of desire that the Gin Kings showed.

Purefoods’ third loss in four games came on the night that the numbers 44 of Jerry Codiñera and 7 of Rey Evangelista were retired by the squad in a special pregame ceremony on center court.

Joseph Yeo hit four of his five triples in the third quarter as the Hotshots broke away for good, bloating a 38-32 halftime lead to 66-49 going into the fourth frame.

Greg Slaughter had 14 points and 13 rebounds and Japeth Aguilar started out at center to finish with 11 points and eight boards.

The win was actually the first for Ginebra in its last four clashes with Purefoods. It also gave Jeffrey Cariaso his first win against his long-time mentor, Tim Cone.

“It was just one of those nights where I think we wanted it more than they did,” Cariaso said. “I could breathe now. I haven’t been breathing for the last four days to prepare for this (game).”

Peter June Simon scored 15 points, 10 of them in the second period where the Hotshots made a game out of it.

Yap, who sat out the last two games because of a slight hamstring pull, started out and played 30 minutes. He went 2-for-14 from the field for seven points.

The scores:

First Game

GLOBALPORT 87—Buenafe 17, Semerad 16, Pringle 14, Jensen 14, Cabagnot 9, Isip 8, Baclao 3, Caperal 2, Ponferada 2, De Ocampo 2, Pinto 0, Taha 0, Nabong 0.

BLACKWATER 72—Faundo 16, Gamalinda 15, Artadi 11, Salvacion 10, Erram 6, Rodriguez 6, Laure 5, Ballesteros 2, Nuyles 1, Timberlake 0, Tiongson 0, Menor 0, Cawaling 0, Austria 0.

Quarters: 19-20, 45-40, 70-53, 87-72

Second Game

GINEBRA 89—Yeo 17, Slaughter 14, Baracael 13, Mamaril 12, Aguilar 11, Tenorio 7, Caguioa 7, Brondial 6, Helterbrand 2, Monfort 0, Forrester 0, Urbiztondo 0, Reyes 0, Ellis 0.

PUREFOODS 66—Simon 15, Devance 11, Pingris 10, Barroca 9, Mallari 8, Yap 7, Taha 3, Melton 2, Allado 1, Reavis 0, Holstein 0, Gaco 0, Maliksi 0, Matias 0.

Quarters: 19-10, 38-32, 66-49, 89-66