Two teams in need of a win—Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Blackwater Bossing—capped off Wednesday night PBA Philippine Cup action at the Ynares Centre in Antipolo. Blackwater struck early, but it was Ginebra that got the last laugh, blitzing the Bossing with some red-hot shooting en route to a 103-85 victory.
With the victory, Ginebra kept pace with Meralco at 4-4 and put a firmer grip on a possible play-off spot. Blackwater, meanwhile, suffered their second straight defeat and fell to 1-8.
What Happened?
Blackwater started on a 9-1 run and went ahead, 11-3, early in the first quarter. But Ginebra got back gradually, first with a six-point cluster from Jeremiah Gray. Then, the crowd darlings started hitting their threes en route to a 63-44 advantage going into intermission. Ginebra did not let their guard down come the second half, continuing their strong play—marked by a free-flowing offence and some stingy defence—to keep Blackwater at bay on their way to their fourth victory, as against the same number of losses.
Who Stood Out?
Jeremiah Gray only had 12 points, but his early six-point blitz helped Ginebra get settled after an uneven start. With Gray opening the floodgates, so to speak, RJ Abarrientos, Norbert Torres, and Jayson David next joined in, with Abarrientos firing a team-high 15, David adding 11 points (including 8 in the second quarter) and 8 rebounds, and Torres putting up 9.
Blackwater’s backcourt of the future—Sedrick Barefield and Dalph Panopio—carried the fight for the Bossing, especially in the first half. Panopio, in particular, was superb, dishing out a 22-point, 8-rebound, 3-assist, and 4-steal performance. Barefield added 17 points and 5 boards.
3 Keys to the Game
- Defence. Ginebra were sensational on defence in this one, flying all over the court to contest shots, beating the Bossing to their spots, and making it tough for them to execute. Overall, Ginebra held Blackwater to just 37.5% shooting from the field, and just 23.3% from downtown.
- Ball movement. Ginebra finished at 47.6% overall, on 40.6% from the arc, and part of the reason the crowd darlings shot so well was their ball movement. Ginebra moved the ball around and consistently found the open man, whether from downtown or in the paint, for easier looks.
- Bench play. Ginebra’s starters began the game in a rut, with only Gray getting going early. But then the bench unit came in and sparked Ginebra, with David, Abarrientos, and Torres all playing well and putting up the numbers. Ralph Cu also came off the bench and had 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
Next Up for the PBA
PBA Philippine Cup action goes to the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Friday with three of the four teams that played on Wednesday. Ginebra will be back in action as they take on Terrafirma in the curtain-raiser, followed by the Phoenix Fuel Masters going up against the Meralco Bolts.
Terrafirma vs. Ginebra (5:15 p.m.)
Phoenix vs. Meralco (7:30 p.m.)
