By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings relied on a huge second-half performance to defeat the NorthPort Batang Pier, 103-93, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night, January 7.
Tony Bishop, Jr. tallied a double-double of 26 points and 16 rebounds to go with five steals, two assists and two blocks as the defending champion Gin Kings secured their third consecutive win for a 7-3 win-loss slate.
Jamie Malonzo and Christian Standhardinger chipped in 16 markers apiece, and Japeth Aguilar chipped in 15 markers.
Maverick Ahanmisi and Stanley Pringle contributed 13 and 10 points, respectively, for the Gin Kings.
Down 50-53 early in the third canto, the Gin Kings went on a 12-0 blast behind Standhardinger, Bishop and Malonzo for a 62-53 lead.
The Batang Pier rallied to take a 69-67 lead before Ginebra went on another run for a 77-72 advantage.
NorthPort kept the match close at 75-79 early in the fourth period, but the Gin Kings went on a huge run behind Ahanmisi, Bishop and Earl Scottie Thompson for the biggest lead at 98-81.
Arvin Tolentino finished with 27 points, including four three-pointers. Venkatesha Jois had a double-double of 21 points and 17 rebounds, while Ilonggo Paul Zamar and John Michael Calma ended with 11 and 10, respectively, as the Batang Pier dropped to 6-5.
Meanwhile, Bennie Boatwright, Jr. caught fire offensively as the San Miguel Beermen walloped the Terrafirma Dyip, 132-110, to bolster their bid for a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.
The American import dropped 51 points, including seven three-point conversions, to go with 12 rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and a steal as the Beermen improved to a 7-3 record.
Celedonio Trollano added 22 markers, including two triples. Jaymar Perez and Moala Tautuaa contributed 16 points apiece, while Terrence Romeo ended with 12 markers for the Beermen.
Javi Gomez de Liaño finished with 26 points. Thomas de Thaey and Juan Miguel Tiongson added 17 markers apiece, while Stephen Holt and Eric Camson had 13 and 11, respectively, as the Dyip dropped to 2-8./ASC, WDJ
GINEBRA 103 — Bishop 26, Malonzo 16, Standhardinger 16, J. Aguilar 15, Ahanmisi 13, Pringle 10, Thompson 7, Tenorio 0, Pinto 0, Gumaru 0, Onwubere 0, David 0, Cu 0.
NORTHPORT 93 — Tolentino 27, Jois 21, Zamar 11, Calma 10, Yu 8, Munzon 6, Paraiso 5, Chan 5, Rosales 0, Amores 0, Flores 0, Adamos 0, Bulanadi 0.
Quarterscores: 24-26, 50-50, 77-72, 103-93.