PBA: Ginebra ousts NorthPort, returns to Governors’ Cup Finals
MANILA, Philippines—It has been a season of near futility but Barangay Ginebra is a step closer to achieving its title hopes this year.
The Gin Kings returned to championship round of the PBA Governors’ Cup after a 120-107 beating of NorthPort in Game 4, 3-1, Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ginebra is entering the finals for the first time this season which gives them a chance at a third Governors’ Cup in four years.
The Gin Kings immediately established control, racing to an early 13-6 run to take a 19-10 lead midway through the first quarter and setting the tone for the rest of the match.
An 11-1 run in the fourth quarter capped off by a bucket by Scottie Thompson for a 107-88 lead effectively sank the Batang Pier’s comeback hopes.
Apart from the tangibles, Ginebra’s depth of roster also helped its return to the finals with Batang Pier parading a squad without three injured key players.
Rookie start Robert Bolick is still out with a knee injury while Sol Mercado and Kevin Ferrer, both formet Ginebra players, remained out due to health problems.
“Sol takes care of the defensive end and Kevin can space the floor, and of course Bolick and you know how good he is,” said Cone. “We wore them down with our depth.”
“The semifinals is played every other day, and depth becomes very important. We obviously had the depth that they didn’t have.”
Ginebra had the luxury of resting import Justin Brownlee even if it was just for a couple of minutes while NorthPort had to play the duo of Christian Standhardinger and Michael Qualls for 48 minutes.
Brownlee towed Ginebra with 36 points, 19 rebounds, eight assists, three steals, and two blocks while Japeth Aguilar had 20 points, nine boards, and seven dimes.
LA Tenorio putched in 19 points and six assists while Thompson finished with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Standhardinger finished with 32 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists for the Batang Pier while Qualls had 25 points, eight boards and seven assists.
