Ginebra slays TNT behind Caguioa’s 28 points

MArk Caguioa vs JAred DIllinger PBA IMAGES / Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines—Mark Caguioa scored a personal conference-high 28 points as Barangay Ginebra San Miguel took down Talk ‘N Text, 107-100, Sunday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Caguioa knocked in 17 points in the second half, including a 13-point third quarter where he kept the Kings in step with the Tropang Texters in a shootout.

“I give it to the boys, hindi sila sumuko,” said Ginebra head coach Alfrancis Chua.

The Kings showed great resolve amid the Texters late fightback spearheaded by Jimmy Alapag, who poured in 13 of his team-high 23 points in the fourth quarter.

Alapag made five triples, three in the last 5:43 as TNT refused to let Ginebra from pulling away.

Vernon Macklin topscored with 28 points capped by a three-point play in style.

With TNT breathing down its neck, Ginebra executed down the stretch with Rudy Hatfield dropping a dime to Macklin, who finished with a two-handed dunk from the baseline plus the foul to make it, 105-98, with 35.4 ticks left.

LA Tenorio, who had 20 points, iced the game at the line.

“We just have to keep on winning, at least wala na kami sa cellar, dikit dikit naman kami,” added Chua, whose team upped its mark to 3-5. “The players just proved that we can win with this lineup.”

Larry Fonacier added 16 points for TNT, which dropped to 4-4, but was hardly non-factor in the second half with just a point.