Ginebra rips G’Port after losing import

NLEX import Henry Walker takes it strong to the basket off Blackwater reinforcement Eric Dawson and Riego Gamalinda in yesterday’s game at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. KIMBERLY DELA CRUZ

AFTER losing import Paul Harris to a gory injury in the third period, Barangay Ginebra played with a lot of character in the final frame to trip GlobalPort, 93-81, in the PBA Governors’ Cup last night at Mall of Asia Arena.

Harris stepped out of the floor with 1:06 left in the third period with bone reportedly sticking out of his hand. But losing Harris only fired up the Gin Kings as they turned what had been a close game into a very authoritative win.

“We won a battle today, but I hope we didn’t lose the war,” Ginebra coach Tim Cone said as he is preparing for the worst of having to let go of Harris—whom the team spent an entire month with—without a Plan B in mind.

NLEX also opened up in impressive style, getting a league career-high 44 points from Henry Walker in a 96-90 decision of Blackwater in the first game.

Eric Dawson had 27 points and Carlo Lastimosa 16 for the Elite, who showed up wearing the late Gilbert Bulawan’s number as a tribute to their recently-departed teammate.

“Paul is already in the hospital with a compound fracture, the bone was sticking out of his [right] thumb,” Cone said. “We spent a whole month [before the conference] with Paul, teaching him the [Triangle Offense] system and getting along with the guys.

“It will be heartbreaking [letting him go because of the injury]. I just feel sorry for him,” Cone went on. “It seemed like a perfect situation—us and him.”

Sol Mercado and Chris Ellis scored eight points each in the fourth period and keyed the Ginebra breakaway, with Japeth Aguilar—who went on to lead all Gin Kings shooters with 21—scoring six of his eight points in the period during garbage time.

Ginebra will not play until Sunday, giving Cone and management a fairly good amount of time to shop around for a potential replacement.

Othyus Jeffers, their import in the Commissioner’s Cup, could be considered.

Meanwhile, Meralco shoots for a second straight win and San Miguel Beer tries to open defense of its title on a bright note when they clash with separate foes today at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

Looking impressive in a 108-103 victory over Phoenix Petroleum on Friday, Allen Durham and the Bolts slug it out with traditional contender Alaska in the 6:15 p.m. contest.

The Beermen and Arizona Reid get going in the 4 p.m. game against the Fuel Masters, with San Miguel likely to miss former MVP Arwind Santos in its first few games because of arthroscopic surgery on his knee.

The scores:

First Game

NLEX 96—Walker 44, Alas 12, Baracael 12, Villanueva J. 11, Taulava 5, Soyud 4, Forrester 3, Lanete 3, Villanueva E. 2, Akl 0, Khobuntin 0, Monfort 0, Reyes 0.

BLACKWATER 90—Dawson 27, Lastimosa 16, Cortez 14, Sena 8, Sumang 8, Canada 5, Pascual 5, Gamalinda 4, Dela Cruz 2, Erram 1, Cervantes 0.

Quarters: 31-16, 53-39, 78-68, 96-90

Second Game

GINEBRA 93—Aguilar 21, Harris 14, Mercado 12, Devance 10, Ellis 10, Tenorio 10, Caguioa 6, Helterbrand 3, Cruz 2, Marcelo 2, Mariano 2, Thompson 1.

GLOBALPORT 81—Pringle 26, Sutton 18, Romeo 15, Yeo 8, Isip 5, Taha 4, Kramer 3, Dehesa 2, Banal 0, Paredes 0, Pascual 0.

Quarters: 25-30, 44-47, 62-61, 93-81