PBA: Ginebra opens strong, trumps Converge

Ginebra import Tony Bishop in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. —PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—Barangay Ginebra produced a winning start to its season after pulling away in the third quarter to take down struggling Converge, 100-86, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Import Tony Bishop, Christian Standhardinger and Maverick Ahanmisi were among those who played important roles in the Gin Kings’ triumph that came despite reeling in the absence of Justin Brownlee due to his failed doping test at the Hangzhou Asian Games.

Bishop had 34 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks, Standhardinger put up 25 points, 16 rebounds and five assists while Ahanmisi scored all of his seven points in the third in his Ginebra debut which incidentally came against his former team.

The Gin Kings prevailed before returning to action Sunday to take on the Magnolia Hotshots, who are unbeaten after three straight wins to start the season.

Magnolia earlier defeated NorthPort in the opening game of the twinbill.

Converge remained winless after three matches, due in part to squandering a nine-point lead in the second quarter.

Ginebra closed the period ahead 54-52, before taking control of the second half.
Justin Arana produced 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists for the slumping FiberXers.

The scores:

GINEBRA 100—Bishop 34, Standhardinger 25, Thompson 13, J.Aguilar 11, Pringle 8, Ahanmisi 7, Pinto 2, Pessumal 0, Cu 0, Gumaru 0.
CONVERGE 86—Arana 20, Vodanovich 13, Balanza 13, Zaldivar 9, Nieto 7, Melecio 7, Stockton 6, Winston 5, Caralipio 3, Racal 3, Wong 0, Fornilos 0, Maagdenberg 0, Tallo 0.
Quarters: 25-30, 54-52, 80-67, 100-86.