PBA: Ginebra shuts down Wright, Phoenix for 4-0 start

Another solid game from Prince Caperal. PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines — Barangay Ginebra clamped down on Phoenix for a masterful 86-71 win to keep its record clean in the PBA Philippine Cup Wednesday at AUF Sports Arena & Cultural Center in Angeles, Pampanga.

The Gin Kings smothered one of the league’s top offensive teams anchored by their stellar defensive performance against the Fuel Masters’ top gunner in Matthew Wright.

“We played pretty good defense and we played Matthew Wright really well,” said Ginebra head coach Tim Cone, whose squad climbed to 4-0 to tie TNT in first place.

Wright, who came into the game averaging 30 points per outing, was held to just 12 points on 5-of-17 shooting from the field with four turnovers.

Ginebra also had it going on the offensive end with Stanley Pringle in his element and Prince Caperal again spacing the floor with his outside shooting.

Pringle had 20 points, three rebounds and three assists while Caperal added 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting from downtown, 10 rebounds, five assists and a block.

As per PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon, the last time Ginebra opened a conference with four straight wins was back in the 1986 Open Conference when the franchise, led by Sonny Jaworski and imports Billy Ray Bates and Michael Hackett, won its first championship.

Jason Perkins had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Fuel Masters, who took their second consecutive loss after a 2-0 start.