Ginebra started off on the wrong foot but came to its senses to eventually pull off a dominant win over Blackwater in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup.
Over two minutes into the game, Ginebra stared at a 1-9 deficit as it struggled against Blackwater’s zone defense.
Tim Cone called a timeout to address this early struggle, and the Gin Kings got it going on their way to a 103-95 win in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Wednesday, Dec. 10.
“They (Bossing) came out and shot the ball well. We didn’t adjust to their zone right away,” said Cone, whose team improved to a 4-4 record to stay in the playoff race.
Cone added that his wards' early woes were just the jolt they needed.
“We wanted to get off to a really good start, so I think we’re a little frustrated in the beginning of the game. We needed to get over that frustration so we can get locked in to what we needed to do,” the Ginebra mentor added.
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The Gin Kings really shifted into higher gear in the second period, where the Gin Kings dropped 40 points to the Bossing's 20 after burying nine three-pointers.
Blackwater showed some fight in the third period, coming as close as 14 points, but just could not do anything significant to flip the script.
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RJ Abarrientos led the Gin Kings with 15 points, three rebounds, an assist and a steal. Stephen Holt came up with 12 points he spiked with seven rebounds and two assists, while Jeremiah Gray also scored 12.
Jayson David added 11 points, eight rebounds and two assists.
“RJ led the second group to come out, and they really ripped up the zone they played. And they’ve decided not to play that the rest of the game,” said Cone.
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Meanwhile, Dalph Panopio had a stellar outing for Blackwater with his 22 points, eight rebounds and three assists in a sendoff of sorts before he joins Gilas Pilipinas for the Southeast Asian Games.
Sedrick Barefield backed up Panopio with 17 points, five rebounds and two assists, while another SEAG-bound Bossing in Abu Tratter had 12 points and seven boards.
Ginebra vs. Blackwater Scores:
GINEBRA 103 – Abarrientos 15, Holt 12, Gray 12, David 11, Rosario 10, Torres 9, Thompson 8, J.Aguilar 8, Estil 7, R.Aguilar 6, Cu 3, Adamos 2, Pinto 0
BLACKWATER 85 – Panopio 22, Barefield 17, Tratter 12, Mallilin 8, Una 8, David 7, Guinto 6, Dumont 5, Mendoza 0, Jopia 0, Andrade 0, Zamar 0
Quarterscores: 23-22, 63-42, 80-64, 103-85
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.