Kings lean on old reliables to strike Bolts

MANILA, Philippines – Barangay Ginebra squandered a double-digit spread but regrouped and unleashed a strong finishing kick to nip Meralco, 107-93 and take solo third in the PBA Governors’ Cup last night at Quezon Convention Center in Lucena.

Forced to a 68-standoff, the Gin Kings turned to old reliables Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand to pull away again in the third and to Sol Mercado and Japeth Aguilar to sustain the charge coming home en route to clinching their third victory in four starts.

Now on a two-game roll, the Gin Kings moved half a game behind joint leaders Mahindra (3-0) and TNT Katropa (3-0) while dropping the Bolts to their second straight setback after a 2-0 start.

“We played a tough game under tough conditions and I thought Jayjay and Mark came out with a lot of energy in the third and kinda changed the tempo for us and gave us a big lift. That was a key moment of the game,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone, whose team is now 5-0 in road games.

Caguioa finished with 13 points, sparking Ginebra to a 13-3 assault to restore an 11-point spread after Meralco drew level.

The Bolts threatened to within 90-87 in the payoff period but Mercado and Aguilar rose to the occasion and fueled a 17-6 windup to seal the win.

Mercado fired 19 markers, including nine in the fourth, with four assists, two steals and two rebounds. Justin Brownlee led scoring with 26 markers to go with six assists while Aguilar finished with 15.