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Ginebra lost hold of a 15-point edge but weathered the Blackwater fightback to escape with a 99-90 win in the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup Friday at Cuneta Astrodome.
Scottie Thompson imposed his presence in the fourth quarter as he commandeered a telling 11-2 run to give his side a 93-84 lead with 4:42 left, ultimately taking the fight out of the Elite.
“Scottie was awesome again. He got a couple of drives to the basket to start the run, getting a couple of rebounds. Even when he’s not rebounding the ball, they’re rebounding to him. He’s amazing. It’s like he’s always at the right place at the right time,” said coach Tim Cone of his sophomore guard.
Thompson finished with 13 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals to give Ginebra its first back-to-back victories of the conference.
Jervy Cruz paced the Gin Kings with 16 markers and five boards off the bench, while LA Tenorio had 15 points, six assists, and four rebounds.
Joe Devance added 13 markers and seven boards, while Dave Marcelo got 13 points and six rebounds.
Roi Sumang captained Blackwater’s rally from a 15-point deficit in the second half before Kyle Pascual tied the game at 82. But that proved to be the Elite’s final hurrah as Thompson orchestrated the win in the final eight minutes of the game.
“I just felt tonight we had a little more depth than they did, especially when Japeth (Aguilar) came out,” said Cone of his lengthy forward, who hyperextended his right elbow after a dunk at the 3:55 mark of the second quarter.
Ginebra improved to joint third with a 5-4 record, tied with Phoenix, Rain or Shine and TNT, while Blackwater slumped to seventh with a 5-5 card.
Sumang led the Elite with 20 points, four assists, and three rebounds, while Raymond Aguilar got 16 markers on a 4-of-6 shooting from threes.
The Scores:
GINEBRA 99 – Cruz 16, Tenorio 15, Aguilar 14, Thompson 13, Devance 13, Marcelo 13, Ellis 6, Mercado 5, Ferrer 2, Caguioa 2, Taha 0.
BLACKWATER 90 – Sumang 20, Belo 16, Aguilar 16, Sena 14, Dela Cruz 7, Gamalinda 6, Miranda 5, Buenafe 4, Pascual 2, Ababou 0, Pinto 0.
Quarters: 25-23, 53-40, 80-71, 99-90.