Barangay Ginebra unveiled a gem of a small import in Curtis Stinson on Sunday night and the Gin Kings went on to rip the Powerade Tigers, 92-80, in the PBA Governors Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The 6-foot-2 Stinson, the MVP in the NBA’s D-League last season, pumped in 15 points and missed a triple double by just a rebound and two assists in a brilliant all-around display of team play that got the Kings off on the right foot.
“He competes,” Ginebra coach Jong Uichico said when asked of what he thought of his import.
“He plays defense, posts up and involves his teammates. He’s doing the job that he was asked to do.”
Yancy De Ocampo actually led the Kings with 18 points built around a solid 8-of-14 effort from the field that included two triples, and John Wilson, Mark Caguioa and JC Intal tossed in 12 or more as Ginebra was never headed all night.
In the first game, undermanned Meralco ran rings around powerhouse Petron all game long en route to a 105-100 victory for the tournament’s first upset (See story on A31).
The Tigers, who were without leading scorer Gary David, trailed big all night despite Chris Porter’s 38 points that went with 16 boards. Only center Rob Reyes finished in twin digits for the local Tigers with 10.
David will be out for at least another week because of a broken bone in his left hand sustained in a friendly with Ginebra more than a week ago. And his absence showed as the Tigers couldn’t find another go-to guy after Porter.
Stinson actually scored just two points in the first two periods but kept the team together the whole time as Ginebra scored 43 points in the first half alone and took a 13-point lead into the third period.
Even without hardworking power forward Rudy Hatfield and with big man Eric Menk playing just 19 minutes, the Kings still went on to outrebound the Tigers, 55-48 to make up for four more turnovers for the game.
The scores:
Second Game
GINEBRA 92—De Ocampo 18, Stinson 15, Wilson J. 15, Caguioa 13, Intal 12, Wilson W. 6, Tubid 5, Aquino 4, Cortez 2, Menk 2, Miller 0.
POWERADE 80—Porter 38, Reyes R. 10, Anthony 6, Allera 5, Lanete 5, Cruz 5, Espino 4, Macapagal 3, Rizada 2, Laure 2, Reyes J. 0, Quinahan 0, Gonzales 0.
Quarters: 25-17, 43-30, 71-55, 92-80