HARDWORKING NLEX import Kwame Alexander rises to block a shot attempt by Meralco’s Andre Emmett. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
Orlando Johnson scored 47 points and had 17 rebounds and led Barangay Ginebra in turning back a Manny Pacquiao-inspired KIA Motors crew, 105-98, for the Gin Kings’ first victory in the PBA Governors’ Cup eliminations at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.
Johnson scored seven straight points when the eight-division world champion entered the venue at the 7:36 mark of the second quarter as he helped the Gin Kings take the half from being 31-33 down.
It was nip-and-tuck from there as the Carnival played heads-up ball the rest of the way, their only downfall coming from 15 feet away when imports Jet Chang and Hamady Ndiaye took turns in missing critical free throws in the stretch.
The win was the first in three games for the Gin Kings, who again played without the 7-foot Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar and Chris Ellis, but got the usual numbers from Johnson and crucial connections from Mark Caguioa and Josh Urbiztondo when the game hung in the balance.
“We were just after our first win, regardless of who we were up against,” said Ginebra coach Frankie Lim.
Urbiztondo scored on a fastbreak layup with 45.6 remaining that snapped the game’s last tie at 97, before Johnson made two free throws with a shade under 30 seconds left off Alex Nuyles to seal the deal.
KIA, which was led by tiny LA Revilla’s 20 points, dropped to 1-1.
Ndiaye had a miserable outing from the stripe, making just 7-of-16 attempts after going a perfect 5-of-5 in an upset victory over San Miguel Beer last week.
Pacquiao, less than two weeks after dropping a unanimous decision loss to Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas, showed up with his right arm in a heavy sling and fired up his Carnival no end.
Earlier, American Kwame Alexander fired 29 points and grabbed 17 rebounds and Asi Taulava had 20 and 10 last night as NLEX finally broke through with a 91-84 decision of sister squad Meralco.
The duo simply dominated inside and more than made up for the absence of prolific Asian reinforcement Michel Madanly as the Road Warriors tied the Bolts at 1-2 in the standings.
The scores:
First Game
NLEX 91—Alexander 29, Taulava 20, Canaleta 13, Cardona 9, Ramos 6, Arboleda H. 5, Villanueva J. 4, Villanueva E. 3, Borboran 2, Raymundo 0, Lingganay 0.
MERALCO 84—Emmett 44, Ando 18, Hodge 6, Sena 4, Ferriols 4, Wilson 2, Anthony 2, David 2, Ildefonso 0, Cortez 0, Guevarra 0.
Quarters: 17-16, 40-36, 63-59, 91-84
Second Game
GINEBRA 105—Johnson 47, Caguioa 16, Urbiztondo 11, Tenorio 10, Mercado 8, Tungalag 8, Brondial 3, Marcelo 2, Pena 0, Monfort 0, Helterbrand 0, Baracael 0.
KIA 98—Revilla 20, N’Diaye 19, Dehesa 19, Chang 10, Bagatsing 10, Nuyles 5, Ighalo 4, Alvarez 4, Thiele 3, Deutchman 2, Yee 2, Pascual 0.
Quarters: 23-27, 49-42, 73-65, 105-98