PBA: Ginebra turns back Meralco for 2nd straight win

Barangay Ginebra put a premium on closing quarters strong and came away with a 107-93 win over Meralco in the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup Saturday night at Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.

The Gin Kings went on telling runs late in the third and fourth quarters to hold off the Bolts for their second straight victory and a 3-1 record.

A 15-1 surge in the last four minutes turned a three-point game into a 105-89 rout while a 13-3 spurt to close the third period gave the Kings the momentum they needed heading into the final frame.

Sol Mercado scored eight of his 19 points during the pivotal charge late while Justin Brownlee outplayed his struggling counterpart Allen Durham with 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting for Ginebra.

Durham hasn’t been his old dominant self since wearing a mask to protect a broken nose he suffered against Alaska in just the second game of the conference.

Durham averaged 34 points in his first two games — both wins — but he has slowed down since the injury, scoring just 14 in a loss to TNT last week and 17 Saturday night in another setback.

Mark Caguioa spearheaded Ginebra’s run in the third quarter, where the Kings pulled away from a 68-deadlock. He finished with 13 points and six rebounds off the bench.

Cliff Hodge and Reynel Hugnatan stepped up for Meralco, which slid to 2-2, as both combined for 37 points and 15 rebounds.