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PBA: Barangay Ginebra formalizes playoff berth after dumping Rain or Shine




MANILA, January 23 ------ Barangay Ginebra San Miguel has formalized its entry into the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup playoffs. The Gin Kings did so after they dominated the Rain or Shine ElastoPainters, 120-92, during their faceoff at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, Rizal. ”We haven’t put a good game together this conference, and tonight was one of those games where everything came together,” said Ginebra head coach Tim Cone during the postgame presser. 

  

Cone put a premium on this victory, especially since it was their seventh in 11 games, a good spot to avoid a twice-to-beat disadvantage in the quarterfinals. “We played well defensively, and we executed well offensively, so it was our best game of the conference. It couldn’t have come at a better time. We’re struggling to get into that Top 6 position and get ready for the playoffs, so we were pleased with our efforts tonight,” he continued. 

  

Scottie Thompson was stellar with an all-around outing of 22 points with eight assists and six rebounds, and he admitted to going into the game with extra focus since they are coming from another loss against the TNT Tropang GIGA in their previous assignment. “Coming into this game, talagang kailangan namin ng sense of urgency kasi starting now, playoffs na,” pointed out the one-time league MVP. “Every game is crucial for us kasi gusto naming maganda spot namin sa playoffs.” 

  

Also contributing were Justin Brownlee who led all scorers with 29 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, a steal, and a block, and Troy Rosario, RJ Abarrientos, and Japeth Aguilar who scored 14, 14, and 12, respectively. Only a three-point contest early in the second quarter, Brownlee, Thompson, and Mav Ahanmisi contributed to produce a seven-to-nothing spurt and distance themselves by 10, 39-29, following an and-one by the former in the same frame’s 9:07 mark. Rain or Shine stayed within striking distance at least until midway through the second as they were only trailing by eight, 48-40, but Brownlee and Thompson, together with Stephen Holt and Abarrientos once again charged on a mini-run, this time an 11-to-1 surge, for a 59-41 lead. Barangay Ginebra was already then leading by 21 at halftime, and the perennial crowd favorites used this momentum to distance themselves by as big as 32 later in the second half and never look back. 

  

Despite the win, Cone emphasized how they should avoid complacency especially since they are yet to finalize their bid for a slot in the Top 6. ”All we can do is control what we can control. We try not to look at the standings too much. If you’re down in the standings, it can be a distraction if you think of it too much. If you’re on top, then you may get a little bit kampante,” said Coach Tim. ”If we can beat [the] Meralco Bolts, I think we can get to the Top 6,” he added. 

  

On the other hand, the E-Painters, which was led by Dean Thompson’s 23 points, 15 rebounds, and three assists, fell to seventh place in the team standings as they now hold a 6-4 record. 

  

The Scores: 

Ginebra 120 – Brownlee 29, Thompson 22, Rosario 14, Abarrientos 14, J.Aguilar 12, Malonzo 9, Holt 8, R.Aguilar 4, Mariano 3, Pessumal 3, Ahanmisi 2, Pinto 0, Adamos 0, Cu 0. 

Rain or Shine 92 – D. Thompson 23, Asistio 14, Nocum 13, Clarito 12, Tiongson 7, Belga 7, Caracut 6, Malonzo 4, Lemetti 3, Demusis 2, Santillan 1, Norwood 0, Datu 0. 

Quarterscores:  30-23, 66-45, 91-72, 120-92. 

  

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