Ginebra outlasts SMB for 1-0 lead in PBA Ph Cup semis series

Sports

THE Barangay Ginebra squandered an early double-digit lead but recovered their bearings in the endgame to repulse the San Miguel Beermen, 99-90, in Game 1 of their best-of-seven semfinal series in the 50th PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday night, Jan. 4, at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Kings wasted a 12-point lead in the first half, trailed by as many as eight points in the third quarter before staging a big finish to shock the Beermen, who suffered a first defeat after putting up 10 straight wims dating back to the elimination round.

Led by RJ Abarrientos, the Kings got a huge lift from their reserves.

Abarrientos finished with a team-high 23 points while fellow second stringers Ralph Cu, Jayson David, and Norbert Torres combined for 31 markers.

Overall, Ginebra’s bench produced n 54 points while San Miguel’s counterparts only had 29.

Scottie Thompson added 23 points for Ginebra.

June Mar Fajardo led the Beermen with 27 points and 23 rebounds while CJ Perez and Marcio Lassiter contributed 18 and 12 markers, respectively.

THE SCORES:

GINEBRA (99)- Abarrientos 23, Thompson 22, Cu 13, David 10, Torres 8, Rosario 8, J. Aguilar 7, Holt 6, Gray 2, Estil 0, Pinto 0.

SAN MIGUEL (90) - Fajardo 27, Perez 18, Lassiter 12, Tiongson 8, Trollano 5, Calma 4, Cruz 4, Cahilig 3, Tautuaa 3, Ross 2, Brondial 2, Rosales 2.QUARTERSCORES: 26-18, 48-46, 72-73, 99-90.(CCM)