By JONAS TERRADO
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel pulled away in the final stretch of the payoff period and romped to a 95-86 win over NLEX Wednesday in their PBA Governors’ Cup semifinal series at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Gin Kings scored 15 straight points after the last deadlock at 78-all with under six minutes left to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series before a roaring midweek crowd.
Game 2 is set Friday at the same Pasay City venue, with the status of Japeth Aguilar still a question mark.
It was a wondrous night for San Miguel Corporation (SMC) teams as Magnolia also drew first blood at the start of their own semis series with Meralco, 94-80.
Jio Jalalon sparked the 17-point comeback as Magnolia used a searing third quarter rally where it exploded for 29 points while limiting the Bolts to just 13 markers.
Jalalon had an all-around game of 15 points, six rebounds and six assists while Mike Harris was a consistent force all-game long with 26 points and 16 rebounds for the Hotshots.
Ginebra won despite Aguilar hurting his calf after challenging the jumper of NLEX import Cam Clark early in the third quarter.
Import Justin Brownlee had another sensational performance with 27 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and four blocks for Ginebra.
LA Tenorio had 19 points, six rebounds and six assists, Scottie Thompson put up 15 points, 11 rebounds and three assists while Arvin Tolentino and Christian Standhardinger also scored in double figures with 11 and 10, the latter adding 12 rebounds.
Clark scored 30 points but the Road Warriors fell behind in the series despite leading by a high of 16 during the second quarter, 39-23.
The game was tight until Ginebra broke away in the fourth with Thompson atoning for splitting his two free throws by knocking down a triple for an 82-78 lead.
Tenorio scored a floater before Jeff Chan sank a three to make it 87-78 Ginebra, over four minutes to go.
A scoring lull that lasted a minute ended with a Thompson basket followed by four straight from Brownlee and the Gin Kings extended the margin to 93-78 near the two-minute mark. (With a report from Reynald Magallon)
The scores:
First Game
MAGNOLIA 94 – Harris 26, Jalalon 15, Lee 13, Abueva 12, Barocca 9, Dionisio 7, Dela Rosa 6, Wong 5, Sangalang 1, Reavis 0, Corpuz 0, De Leon 0, Capobres 0, Escoto 0, Brill 0, Ahanmisi 0
MERALCO 80 – Banchero 16, Quinto 13, Bishop 10, Newsome 8, Maliksi 7, Black 7, Baclao 6, Hodge 5, Almazan 4, Hugnatan 2, Caram 2, Jose 0, Belo 0, Canete 0, Pasaol 0, Jamito 0
Quarters: 12-22, 35-43, 64-56, 94-80
Second Game
GINEBRA 95 — Brownlee 27, Tenorio 19, Thompson 15, Tolentino 11, Standhardinger 10, Chan 7, Aguilar J. 4, Pinto 2, Onwubere 0, Caperal 0, Enriquez 0.
NLEX 86 — Clark 30, Alas 17, Semerad 8, Quinahan 8, Trollano 6, Paniamogan 5, Nieto 4, Chua 3, Rosales 3, Varilla 2, Ighalo 0.
Quarters: 23-29, 43-45, 70-64, 95-86.
