Ginebra snaps TNT’s streak, bolsters Top 4 bid

Sports

WHAT was expected to be a tight marquee matchup turned into a yawner as the Barangay Ginebra Kings demolished the TNT Tropang 5G, 97-78, in the 49th PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday night, June 9, At the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Ginebra started the match with a 13-0 blast, jumping the gun on TNT squad which came into the match as the league’s hottest team.

The Kings went on to end the opening period with a huge 30-11 lead and the game was never close since then.

With the win, the Kings improved to 7-3 (win-loss) that bolstered their bid to secure a twice-to-beat bonus in the quarterfinal round. Ginebra joined sister-team Magnolia at third place, closely trailing NLEX (8-2) and San Miguel (7-2).

TNT, on the other hand, saw its six-game winning streak come to an end. It was just the Tropa’s first loss since starting the tournament with three straight defeats.

RJ Abarrientos led the Kings with a game-high 23 points. Japeth Aguilar put in 20 markers and 14 rebounds while Stephen Holt, Jamie Malonzo and Troy Rosario added a combined 35 points.

Calvin Oftana topped TNT with 18 points, all scored in the final half.

THE SCORES:

GINEBRA (97)- Abarrientos 23, J. Aguilar 20, Holt 12, Malonzo 12, Rosario 11, Pinto 6, Thompson 5, R. Aguilar 4, David 2, Gray 2 Adamos 0, Cu 0, Ahanmisi 0.

TNT (78)- Oftana 18, Heading 10, Aurin 9, Williams 8, Pogoy 8, Khobuntin 7, Enciso 5, Nieto 4, Vosotros 3, Ganuelas Rosser 2, Varilla 2, Erram 2, Heruela 0.QUARTERSCORES: 30-11, 54-27, 74-50, 97-78.9(CCM)