Greg Slaughter fights of rebound. Photo from PBA IMAGES
ANGELES CITY—Ginebra survived a furious Blackwater squad in double overtime, 102-94, Saturday in the 2016 Smart Bro-PBA Philippine Cup at Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center here.
After trading punches all game long, the Kings guards would have enough in second overtime, as LA Tenorio and Scottie Thompson nailed two huge treys to put them ahead, 100-94, as Bambam Gamalinda and Mike Cortez flubbed their three-pointers in the clutch in the Elite’s last attempts.
“I told the guys before the game that we’re going to bleed for this one, and we played a lot more than what we thought we’re going to,” said coach Tim Cone, as Ginebra improved to 5-4, enough to assure the squad a quarterfinals seat.
But Cone said he is still not yet satisfied with just a playoff berth with top six still within reach.
“This is the only thing that we’re going to reach which we’re not going to be satisfied. We got to get to that top six. That’s really the target.”
Greg Slaughter carried Ginebra with 35 points, 15 of which coming in the fourth period, alongside 15 rebounds and two blocks.
Sasmuan native Japeth Aguilar added 25 markers and eight boards in the game played in front of his fellow Kapampangans while Tenorio finished with 19 points and eight rebounds.
“These are the kind of games that our team, our guys need to play and battle for, reach deep for,” Cone said. “These are character games, important times for us to develop as a team and as a unit. It’s a lot more fun learning from wins than learning from our losses.”
Blackwater clawed back from a 10-point deficit early in the fourth before Jason Ballesteros knotted the score at 84 with 40.2 seconds to go.
But Ballesteros could not seal the win in regulation for the Elite after missing his freebies with 4.1 ticks left. Jervy Cruz also could not connect on a potential game-winning jumper for the Kings, backrimming his shot as the time ran out.
In the first OT, the Elite had a chance to stun the Gin Kings. Unfortunately, Art dela Cruz missed his trey as the clock ran down on the rebound play.
Cervantes paced Blackwater with 13 points, all coming in the fourth frame, while Dela Cruz chimed in a double-double of 11 markers and 10 rebounds. Their efforts, though, still weren’t enough as the Elite fell for the fifth straight game.
The Scores:
GINEBRA 102 – Slaughter 35, Aguilar 25, Tenorio 19, Thompson 9, Caguioa 4, Cruz 4, Ellis 4, Devance 2, Mercado 0, Villamor 0, Salva 0.
BLACKWATER 94 – Cervantes 13, Dela Cruz 11, Erram 10, Gamalinda 10, Lastimosa 10, Canada 9, Ballesteros 8, Cortez 8, Reyes 6, Sena 4, Agovida 3, Golla 2, Melano 0.
Quarters: 27-22, 42-46, 65-61, 84-84, 92-92, 102-94.