By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings leaned on a huge endgame spurt to defeat the NLEX Road Warriors, 103-99, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation in Legaspi City on Saturday night, January 13.
Down 91-94 with over four minutes left, the Gin Kings unloaded seven straight points via an inside hit by Tony Bishop Jr., a three-pointer by Maverick Ahanmisi, and a putback by Christian Standhardinger for a 98-94 lead.
The Road Warriors answered with a three-pointer from Anthony Semerad to cut the deficit to 97-98, but a triple by Bishop and two free throws from Stanley Pringle sealed the win for the Gin Kings.
Bishop finished with a double-double of 27 points and 14 rebounds to go with four assists, two blocks and a steal as defending champion Gin Kings improved to an 8-3 record, securing a twice-to-beat edge in the quarterfinals.
Standhardinger added 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Jamie Malonzo chipped in 16 markers, with four outside shots, while Ahanmisi and Pringle ended with 13 each for Barangay Ginebra.
The Gin Kings were scorching to start the game as they built a 31-23 first quarter lead, which grew to as high as 13 points in the second canto.
The Road Warriors clawed their way back behind rookie Enoch Valdez to clinch a 54-53 halftime lead.
NLEX’s lead grew to as high as 11 points in the third quarter, but the Gin Kings slowly clawed their way back behind Bishop, Ahanmisi and Standhardinger to cut it to 77-82.
They maintained the lead at 86-81 via baskets from Richie Rodger, but Ginebra answered with shots from Japeth Aguilar and Pringle to take an 87-86 lead before the Road Warriors kept the match close and took their last lead at 94-91.
Deandre Williams-Baldwin finished with 27 points and 14 rebounds. Valdez added 17 markers, Negrense rookie Jhan Nermal had 15 points, while Semerad chipped in 14 markers for the Road Warriors.
With a 4-7 win-loss slate, the Road Warriors will hope for sister team TNT Tropang Giga (4-6) to drop their game against the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters to force a playoff for the eighth and last quarterfinals seat./ASC, WDJ
GINEBRA 103 — Bishop 27, Standhardinger 18, Malonzo 16, Ahanmisi 13, Pringle 13, J. Aguilar 6, Thompson 4, Pessumal 3, Pinto 3, Tenorio 0.
NLEX 99 — Williams-Baldwin 27, Valdez 17, Nermal 15, Semerad 14, Anthony 12, Bolick 10, Rodger 4, Miranda 0.
Quarterscores: 31-23, 53-54, 77-82, 103-99.