Greg Slaughter. PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—Barangay Ginebra needed extra five minutes to survive Magnolia the last time the two fierce rivals met three weeks ago.
It wasn’t the case on Saturday when the Gin Kings blew out the Hotshots, 86-75, in Game 1 of their PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals series at Mall of Asia Arena.
Ginebra turned on the jets in the second quarter where it outscored Magnolia, 27-9, to take a 44-27 advantage at the half.
“That team just doesn’t go away. We played some really excellent basketball out there especially on defense. We defended very well but that team just doesn’t go away,” Ginebra head coach Tim Cone told reporters. “I was nervous all the way up to the last 40 seconds when I finally felt that we won it.”
“I just thought our hustle and energy was very good tonight. That’s the team usually out-hustles you, out-energizes you and we got that tonight rather than them,” he added.
Cone may just be being too humble in victory as the Hotshots never really threatened.
Ginebra led by as much as 21 in the third quarter and Magnolia didn’t pull within single digits until the 1:15 mark of the fourth quarter.
Greg Slaughter powered the Gin Kings with 15 points and 12 rebounds while Art dela Cruz added 14 points, three rebounds and a block in close to 24 minutes off the bench.
But as dominant as Ginebra was in the opener, Cone knows the Gin Kings can’t afford to let complacency creep in heading into Monday’s Game 2.
“But the big thing is we didn’t really do anything. All we was I guess put ourselves in the same situation as Rain or Shine and Phoenix. Now we have a twice-to-beat and obviously, we’d rather be Phoenix and Rain or Shine than Alaska and NorthPort,” he said
“This doesn’t guarantee us anything but the first game of a short series is always important cause you do get that quick advantage.”
Paul Lee had 15 points and three assists while Ian Sangalang collected 14 points, eight rebounds and three steals for the Hotshots, who shot just 35 percent from the field.