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PANABO – LA Tenorio saved the day again for Ginebra.
The heady playmaker drilled a huge jumper with 1.2 seconds left to carry Ginebra in a huge come-from-behind 102-101 victory over Phoenix in the Petron Saturday Special of the 2016 Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Panabo Multi-Purpose Tourism, Cultural, and Sports Center in Davao del Norte.
“It was a tough shot and the referee gave it to us,” said coach Tim Cone of Tenorio’s game-winner.
The veteran was instrumental in that fourth quarter fightback, dropping nine of his 17 points in the period, none bigger than the final jumper he made. He also had six rebounds and nine assists.
Tenorio’s heroics dimmed the spotlight on Ginebra’s lackluster first two quarters, where it fell behind 56-39 at halftime.
“We didn’t play well all night while they played very well,” said Cone, as his crew improved to 5-3. “I’m still kind of in shock. I don’t know how we got that one. They really dominated us and we got to play better than this.”
Greg Slaughter paced the Gin Kings with 28 markers and 13 boards, while import Othyus Jeffers did it all with 24 points, 14 rebounds, and four assists.
The Fuel Masters had their guns ablaze from the get-go, drilling nine triples in the first half.
Ginebra, meanwhile, clawed back from 19-points down and even held a four-point edge with seven minutes still left in the game. Phoenix retook the lead and was poised to grab the win with a couple of Kevinn Pinkney baskets to hold a 101-96 edge in the final minute before Joe
Devance nailed a huge trey and forced a crucial stop in the last 14.4 ticks of the game.
Jeffers split his charities with 9.8 seconds remaining, but Devance was able to grab the offensive board leading to the Tenorio game-winner.
Pinkney was unable to drain the desperation jumper at the buzzer.
Pinkney finished the game with 24 points and 14 rebounds in the losing effort for Phoenix (2-
5), while RR Garcia ended up with 23 markers, nine assists, and six boards.
The scores:
GINEBRA 102 – Slaughter 28, Jeffers 24, Tenorio 17, Devance 9, Aguilar 6, Mercado 6, Thompson 6, Caguioa 4, Cruz 2, Ellis 0, Helterbrand 0, Marcelo 0, Salva 0.
PHOENIX 101 – Pinkney 24, Garcia 23, Monfort 10, Urbiztondo 10, Lanete 9, Intal 8, Baracael 7, Wilson 6, Brondial 2, Pennisi 2.
Quarters: 17-31, 39-56, 75-80, 102-101.