After exchanging merciless rallies with the tough Nlex squad in majority of the ball game, it only took one last quarter for the Ginebra to break away and seal a 110-97 win over the unscathed Road Warriors in 2017 Oppo PBA Governors’ Cup road game at the Calasiao Sports Complex, Pangasinan.
Both teams held a double-digit spread with Nlex starting an impressive 12-2 major run early in the ball game, while Ginebra quickly responded with a 22-2 blast, claiming a 2-point lead at 26-24.
The mix of veteran firepower and young gunners of Road Warriors entered the second quarter by storming the Gin Kings, giving them blows after blows inside and outside the paint for a 13-0 run, while Ginebra remained scoreless at the first 4 minutes of the second period. But the Kings refused to go down using their own version of 15-5 storm and regained the lead at 50-48.
Another Ginebra onslaught was experienced by Nlex in the third quarter courtesy of LA Tenorio’s orchestrating talent and scoring prowess, giving a 15-point lead for the Gin Kings at the end of the period, 86-71.
Even though the Road Warriors refused to go down without a fight, there was no looking back for the Ginebra as they gave their counter parts a hard beating in the end-game to seal the win and blemish the record of the tough Nlex.
Joe Devance lead the Ginebra with his 25 points and 3 rebounds while Justine Brownlee registered a double-double performance of 22 markers, 13 boards and 6 assists.
LA Tenorio lead his team in their third quarter surge with 17 points, 7 assists and near perfect four out of five from the three point range.
Ginebra and Nlex shared with a 3-1 win-loss record.
The scores:
GINEBRA 110 – Devance 23, Brownlee 22, Tenorio 17, Aguilar 10, Slaughter 10, Caguioa 8, Taha 6, Thompson 5, Ferrer 3, Cruz 3, Ellis 3, Marcelo 0, Mariano 0.
NLEX 97 – Fuller 20, Quinahan 12, Fonacier 11, Alas 10, Al-Hussaini 10, Mallari 10, Lastimosa 9, Tiongson 6, Rios 4, J. Villanueva 3, Monfort 2, Taulava 0, Soyud 0, Baracael
Quarter scores: 26-34, 50-48, 86-71, 110-97