San Miguel, Ginebra dispute lead
AFTER posting similar easy victories over their respctive opponents last Friday, San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra clash for the second time in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum — with the solo lead in Group B at stake.
Both San Miguel and Ginebra are playing for the second time in three days, with the Beermen dispatching Phoenix Super LPG, 139-127, and the Gin Kings mauling erstwhile leader Rain or Shine, 124-102, also at the Big Dome last Friday.
Gametime is 7:30 p.m. with an outright playoff berth a big motivation for both teams.
Last Friday, Jordan Adams made an explosive return after sitting out one game as the Beermen rolled over the Fuel Masters in their second-round clash.
Adams, who was replaced by Sheldon Mac in the Beermen’s previous game against the NLEX Road Warriors, finished with 49 points and 11 rebounds.
Adams went 16-of-27 shooting, including a flawless 2-for-2 from beyond the arc as he fuelled SMB to victory.
CJ Perez added 23 points, five rebounds, seven assists, while June Mar Fajardo went 10-for-10 from the field for 22 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for the Beermen of coach Jorge Gallent.
Marcio Lassiter added 16 points, with 15 coming from his 5-for-12 shooting from beyond the arc.
Brandone Francis paced the Fuel Masters with 48 points on 17-of-26 from the fielda as Jamike Jarin’s team dropped to 0-7.
Jason Perkins added 18 points, Raul Soyud chipped in 12 and Ricci Rivero had 11.
Meanwhile, Ginebra went to resident import Justin Brownlee Gin Kings to pull the rug from under the Elasto Painters.
Brownlee erupted for 40 points on 13-of-19 shooting to lead the Gin Kingse, who forced a three-way tie with San Miguel and Rain or Shine for the top spot in Group B at 5-2.
Veteran Japeth Aguilar added 21 points and eight rebounds, followed by Stephen Holt with 18 points and Scottie Thompson with 17.
RJ Abarrientos and Maverick Ahanmisi chipped in 14 and 13 points, respectively. to help the Gin Kings avenge their opening game loss in Candon, Ilocos Sur.
Aaron Fuller led the losing effort for the Yeng Guiao-mentored E-Painters with 28 points and 11 rebounds.
The scores:
First game
San Miguel (139) — Adams 49, Perez 23, Fajardo 22, Lassiter 16, Cruz 9, Trollano 8, Romeo 5, Tautuaa 4, Ross 3, Rosales 0, Brondial 0, Manuel 0, Teng 0.
Phoenix (127) — Francis 48, Perkins 18, Soyud 12, Rivero 11, Muyang 9, Tio 8, Salado 6, Jazul 5, Tuffin 5, Ballungay 3, Alejandro 2, Ular 0, Daves 0, Garcia 0, Manganti 0, Verano 0.
Quarterscores: 32-29, 67-55, 103-88, 139-127.
Second game
Ginebra (124) — Brownlee 40, J.Aguilar 21, Holt 18, Thompson 17, Abarrientos 14, Ahanmisi 13, Garcia 1, Pinto 0, R.Aguilar 0, Cu 0, Adamos 0, Pessumal 0, Go 0.
Rain or Shine (102) — Fuller 28, Clarito 16, Lemetti 15, Nocum 12, Caracut 8, Santillan 6, Villegas 6, Tiongson 5, Mamuyac 4, Norwood 2, Datu.
Quarterscores: 38-30 58-54, 90-79, 124-102.
Games Sunday:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
5 p.m.– Phoenix vs. Blackwater
7:30 p.m.– San Miguel vs. Ginebra