Ginebra rips San Miguel, clinches playoff spot

Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Ginebra took advantage of a seemingly off-form San Miguel Beer and went on a 110-84 shellacking in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

It was a virtual no-contest as Ginebra clinched its 27th straight playoff spot and improved to a 6-4 record.

San Miguel’s only lead came off a Marcio Lassiter triple at the opening basket and it was all Ginebra from thereon.

Ginebra’s lead ballooned to 30, 100-70, on a Othyus Jeffers jam in the break.

Ginebra head coach Tim Cone said it was an opportune time for them to attack San Miguel, which had a grieving Arwind Santos and June Mar Fajardo who just recovered from an injury.

“We really caught San Miguel at the right time,” Cone said. “June Mar is coming back from an injury and Arwind’s bereavement for the last couple of months.”

“They never found a rhythm.”

San Miguel’s loss was the worst under head coach Leo Austria and it was the only time this season where the Beermen lost in double digits, their 99-84 loss to Rain or Shine in the Philippine Cup was the first.

Jeffers led six Ginebra players who scored in double figures as he finished with 22 points to go along 13 rebounds.

Greg Slaughter added 18 points while Chris Ellis and Japeth Aguilar had 15 and 14 points, respectively. LA Tenorio and Sol Mercado had 11 and 10.

Tyler Wilkerson led the Beermen (5-3) with 20 points and 16 boards.