Ginebra survives Meralco scare, completes title repeat
Barangay Ginebra's Justin Brownlee during the PBA Govnernors' Cup title-clincher at the Philippine Arena on Friday night. | PBA Images
BOCAUE, Bulacan — Barangay Ginebra went into the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals Game Seven full of superlatives: the most packed venue; the rowdiest crowd; a cardiac match.
And after 48 minutes, against a familiar foe in Meralco, they became the embodiment of all that: a marvelous team.
The Gin Kings outlasted the Bolts 101-96 putting one more dab of polish on a year of gilded reign as the PBA Governors’ Cup champions at the Philippine Arena on Friday night.
LA Tenorio, as if taking back the memories of Meralco’s hot Game Six shooting, shot the lights out, scoring 26 points to power Ginebra to another crown.
The PBA’s little ironman, who had been playing through a bum elbow, spearheaded a 13-point assault in the first half. This paved the way for the Kings’ lead to swell to as many as 20 late in the second period.
As if that’s not too much for Meralco to handle, Scottie Thompson and Mark Caguioa combined for 18 points. The sophomore guard finally had a breakthrough night of 14 markers, nine rebounds and five crucial steals.
Allen Durham had a team-best 26 points for Meralco while Jared Dillinger finally got over his shooting slump with 20 markers to followthrough the “Law of Averages” his teammates have repeatedly invoked. But it wasn’t enough to give the franchise its first ever title.
The Bolts simply had no answer for the Gin Kings’ baskets in transition and points in the paint—and enough ammo to outlast their foes in the final minutes of the game.They were able to trim the lead to just four.
The win hikes Tim Cone’s hardware collection to 20 titles and Ginebra’s championship banners to 10.
But the win at the Philippine Arena proved to be doubly historic as the PBA again broke its record of gate attendance in 54,086, with the Gin Kings scoring their first-ever back-to-back title.
Cone has also tied in Norman Black in their head-to-head records of Game Sevens coached. The last time the former won over the latter was during the Governors’ Cup in 1995, where he coached Alaska.
The Scores:
GINEBRA 101 - Tenorio 26, Brownlee 23, Thompson 14, Slaughter 12, Aguilar 10, Devance 10, Caguioa 4, Ferrer 2.
MERALCO 96 - Durham 26, Dillinger 20, Hodge 14, Newsome 11, Caram 9, Hugnatan 7, Amer 6, Lanete 3.
Quarters: 27-19, 52-37, 81-64, 101-96.
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