Ginebra head coach Ato Agustin talks about the Kings’ victory over Purefoods Hotshoots. Video by Mark Giongco/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Barangay Ginebra San Miguel spoiled Denzel Bowles’ return to Purefoods with a 96-87 win in the 2015 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Eman Monfort got the rare start and gave the Kings a huge boost with nine points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals sans a turnovers in 30 minutes. Ginebra improved to 3-3 while sending Purefoods to its third straight setback after a 4-0 start.
“First, our players played great and we did a good job especially in our defense and we were able to execute our plays and we were disciplined with our offense,” said Ginebra head coach Ato Agustin. “We started our offense with our big guys that’s why our shooters got open and Eman Monfort gave us a good game.”
Bowles, who led Purefoods then known as the BMeg Llamados to a championship in the 2012 Commissioner’s Cup, scored 31 points but had more turnovers (7) than rebounds (6) in close to 43 minutes of action.
Michael Dunigan recorded 22 points and nine rebounds while LA Tenorio added 16 points and six assists for Ginebra, which needed to hold off Purefoods down the stretch after blowing a 16-point lead it built late in the third quarter.
Mark Barroca, PJ Simon and Joe Devance had 14 points apiece for the shorthanded Hotshots, who missed the services of swingmen James Yap and Allein Maliksi.
The two-time MVP Yap missed his second consecutive game with a swollen knee.
Barroca sparked a fourth-quarter run by Purefoods and back-to-back triples by Devance tied the game at 78 with still 4:42 left, but Ginebra responded with an 8-1 run to put the game away.
“They came back but I just told them ‘don’t panic,'” said Agustin. “They made their run but we also made a run. They are really focused tonight.”
Bowles, who just came from a stint in the Chinese Basketball Association after leading his team in the playoffs, is Purefoods third import this conference.
He replaced former NBA first round pick Daniel Orton, who was sent home after a six-point and three-rebound outing in a loss to Kia last Wednesday where he blasted the game officials and Carnival playing-coach Manny Pacquiao.
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