NAIPUWERSA ng Barangay Ginebra at NLEX ang ‘sudden-death’ nang resbakan ang kani-kanilang katunggali sa Game 2 ng best-of-three PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals kagabi sa Filoil EcoOil Centre sa San Juan City.
Nalusutan ng Gin Kings ang Meralco, 94-87, habang pinulbos ng Road Warriors ang Magnolia, 90-77.
Sumandal ang Gin Kings kina LA Tenorio, Scottie Thompson, Christian Standhardinger, Stanley Pringle at Japeth Aguilar upang pigilan ang Bolts sa pagmartsa sa semifinals.
Matapos ang highly-physical match, gumanti ang Kings sa 93-82 panalo ng Bolts sa best-of-three series opener noong nakaraang Linggo at isinaayos ang you-or-me matchup sa Linggo sa Mall of Asia Arena kung saan ang mananalo ay uusad sa semifinals kontra early qualifier San Miguel Beer.
Sinabi ni Ginebra coach Tim Cone na kailangang muling kumayod ang kanyang tropa upang malusutan ang knockout match.
“We got to put up another performance like we did today,” sabi ni Cone. “They’re trying to do something they haven’t done against us and we know that and we have so much respect for them. They’re showing their desire with the way they’re coming out to play physically, diving all over the floor. (Cliff) Hodge is throwing his body everywhere, just showing that great desire they have.
“We’re just trying to match it, match their physicality and for us to come out and play well in Game 3 we just have to continue to match their physicality. That’s really the name of the game in this series. It’s not a series for young men or boys. This is a series for men.”
Nanguna si Aguilar para sa Gin Kings na may 25 points at 8 rebounds, habang nagdagdag si Tenorio, bokya sa Game 1, ng 13 points at nagbigay ng 4 assists. Umiskor sina Standhardinger at Thompson ng 15 at 11 points, ayon sa pagkakasunod, at nag-ambag si Pringle ng 9’points.
Samantala, sinandigan ni Kevin Alas ang NLEX sa pagkamada ng 30 points, kabilang ang 6 three-pointers.
Nagdagdag si Calvin Oftana ng 10 markers.
Sa panalo ng Road Warriors ay naputol ang 8-game winning streak ng Hotshots.
CLYDE MARIANO
Iskor:
Unang laro:
Ginebra (94) – J.Aguilar 25, Standhardinger 15, Tenorio 13, Thompson 11, Pringle 9, Chan 8, Pinto 7, Caperal 4, Mariano 2.
Meralco (87) – Hodge 25, Maliksi 14, Pasaol 14, Black 9, Newsome 8, Pascual 3, Banchero 2, Quinto 2.
QS: 25-25, 56-45, 69-71, 94-87
Ikalawang laro:
NLEX (90) – Alas 30, Oftana 10, Semerad 9, Varilla 8, Trollano 8, Quinahan 8, Chua 6, Nieto 6, Miranda 3, Rosales 2, Paniamogan 0, Ighalo 0.
Magnolia (77) – Abueva 20, Lee 12, Dionisio 11, Sangalang 10, Jalalon 7, Reavis 4, Barroca 4, Dela Rosa 4, Wong 3, Corpuz 2, Brill 0, Ahanmisi 0, Zaldivar 0, Escoto 0.
QS: 25-18, 55-32, 73-59, 90-77.
