GINEBRA’S Kerby Raymundo loses possession under pressure from B-Meg’s Marc Pingris and Josh Urbiztondo. August dela Cruz
Marc Pingris was Mr. Do-It-All for B-Meg last night and the Llamados shut down Mark Caguioa to pound out an 82-70 victory over Barangay Ginebra and earn at least a playoff for the second Finals slot in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Pingris scored 24 points and had 13 rebounds while the B-Meg defense didn’t allow Caguioa a field goal as the Llamados improved to 9-4 and got a shot at No. 1 on Wednesday.
Pingris was hottest in the third period with 11 points and capped his heroics with a key offensive board and the last of his four assists that led to a James Yap trey and finally put the Gin Kings away.
“You can’t play Ginebra without making him (Caguioa) your (defensive) priority,” B-Meg coach Tim Cone told reporters after Caguioa was held to just three free throws and was 0-for-12 from the field in 29 minutes.
B-Meg closes out its semifinal stint on Wednesday against Rain or Shine, and depending on the result of the Elasto Painters’ game against Talk ‘N Text at 8 p.m. today, the Llamados could even bag the first championship series berth.
Cedric Bozeman led the Kings with 22 points and 13 boards.
In a no-bearing first game, Meralco nipped Petron Blaze, 113-112.
The scores:
First Game
MERALCO 113—West 41, Cardona 26, Mercado 19, Ross 10, Taulava 10, Macapagal 5, Reyes 2, Timberlake 0.
PETRON 112—Cabagnot 29, Lutz 22, Santos 16, Faison 15, Washington 11, Pena 6, Yeo 5, Hontiveros 4, Baclao 2, Duncil 2, Lanete 0.
Quarters: 29-24, 56-46, 88-79, 113-112
Second Game
B-MEG 82—Pingris 24, Blakely 17, Yap 11, Reavis 11, Urbiztondo 9, Simon 4, De Ocampo 4, Villanueva 2, Barroca 0.
GINEBRA 70—Bozeman 22, Helterbrand 16, Raymundo 14, Mamaril 4, Cortez 4, Caguioa 3, Maierhofer 2, W. Wilson 2, Hatfield 2, Villanueva 1, Maliksi 0, Ababou 0, Canaleta 0, Menk 0.