Ginebra flattens NLEX on the road

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CALASIAO, PANGASINAN —With five players shooting in twin digits, Barangay Ginebra became the first side to deal NLEX a defeat in the PBA Governors’ Cup as Joe Devance’s 23 points powered the Gin Kings to a 110-97 Petron Saturday Special Game victory at Calasiao Sports Complex here.

The Gin Kings wriggled free from a tight first half with a solid effort in the third period, scooting away to an 86-71 lead heading into the final frame which they protected to rise to 3-1 overall.

NLEX thus saw a six-game winning streak dating back to the last conference come to a halt, dropping to 4-1 and giving coach Yeng Guiao more or less a clear picture as to how far his Road Warriors have come since a massive facelift in the off-season.

Justin Brownlee racked up 22 points, 13 rebounds and six assists while LA Tenorio added 17 points and seven feeds for the Kings.

Scottie Thompson was the only Ginebra starter who failed to finish in twin digits with five but had 11 assists and seven rebounds in another brilliant all-around effort.

Aaron Fuller had 20 points and 17 rebounds for the Road Warriors, who still are in their finest start in the Guiao era.

Meanwhile, Meralco tries to remain undefeated and add to KIA Picanto’s woes when teams occupying opposite ends of the standings clash at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao on Sunday.

Runners-up here in the most painful way last season, the Bolts tangle with the Picanto in the 6:45 p.m. contest, moments after Blackwater parades NBA veteran Henry Walker in an effort to arrest a woeful start in the 4:30 p.m. game.

Only the Bolts and Star remain without a loss after the first two weeks of action.

Allen Durham has not skipped a beat since the last time he was here, and Norman Black’s locals have shown so much maturity since last year when Justin Brownlee hit the title series-clinching triple in Game 6 of the Finals for Barangay Ginebra.

Walker comes into a Blackwater team sorely lacking in firepower, and the former NLEX import certainly fits that bill and is expected to put some direction into the Elite sagging campaign.