Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Ginebra continued to show improvements this 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup, rallying back from 17-points down as Star collapsed to a 116-103 defeat Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Fueled by 16,460 strong who all trooped to the Big Dome, the Gin Kings came back in dramatic fashion, climbing from an early 49-32 deficit before taking control in the payoff period and clinching a berth in the playoffs for a league-record 28th straight time.
Ginebra went on a 13-0 blast to come back from the dead and take a 70-67 lead late in the third. Jervy Cruz would beat the buzzer at the end of the period before racking up six straight to start the fourth, igniting the fourth quarter breakaway for Ginebra as it took hold a lead as high as 19, 112-93 late.
“Jason (Webb) had them prepared and they came out fired up. We came out a little bit shell shocked by how well they played,” said coach Tim Cone.
“It took us a while to get aware and we did a lot of uncharacteristic things especially defensively. But we felt we had the confidence to come back and we’ll work our way back. Once we got ourselves in the right, the game got a lot easier.”
Justin Brownlee showed the way for Ginebra with 38 points, eight rebounds, and two assists.
“Without Justin, we might be down by 25 at halftime. He carried us in the first half and everybody just followed,” said Cone.
Japeth Aguilar also chipped in 21 markers and six boards, Sol Mercado got eight of his 14 points in the fourth, alongside seven assists, and LA Tenorio had 13 markers and five dimes.
The win pulled Ginebra on a share of second place with Mahindra, both trotting a 6-2 record.
Star, meanwhile, slumped to its fourth straight defeat and fell to a 1-6 card.
Joel Wright captained the Hotshots as he scattered 31 points and 13 rebounds, while Peter June Simon got 22 in the defeat.
The scores:
GINEBRA 116 – Brownlee 38, Aguilar 21, Mercado 14, Tenorio 13, Cruz 8, Caguioa 8, Thompson 6, Marcelo 4, Mariano 2, Devance 2, Helterbrand 0.
STAR 103 – Wright 31, Simon 22, Pingris 13, Garcia 10, Barroca 9, Yap 9, Melton 5, Sangalang 2, Maliksi 2, Reavis 0, Pascual 0.
Quarters: 21-33, 50-58, 78-76, 116-103