Ginebra edges Meralco, gives NorthPort quarterfinals incentives

Barangay Ginebra finished the elimination round of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup with a thrilling victory against Meralco, 91-87, on Chinese New Year at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

The Gin Kings closed the preliminaries with an 8-4 win-loss record, tying the Converge FiberXers, while the Bolts dropped to 7-4.

The game results paved the way for the NorthPort Batang Pier to earn a twice-to-beat advantage going into the quarters and they also got the No. 1 seed for the first time in franchise history.

It was a close battle between the two rivals in the end after Meralco climbed back from a 17-point deficit despite playing All-Filipino as their import Akil Mitchell did not play due to back spasms. The loss halted the three-game win streak of the Bolts.

RJ Abarrientos was instrumental to Ginebra's win as he went four-of-four from the foul in the final minute of the game.

He finished with 17 points to lead the way for Ginebra, while Justine Brownlee, Troy Rosario, and Stephen Holt added 15, 13, and 13, respectively.

In the end, the Bolts still tried to force an overtime but rookie Kurt Reyson missed his four-pointer at the buzzer.

CJ Cansino top-scored for Meralco with 15 markers, while Raymond Almazan added 13, and Aaron Black put up 11.

Meralco can still improve its record as they face the Magnolia Hotshots in the final day of the elimination round on Friday, January 31, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

GINEBRA 91 - Abarrientos 17, Brownlee 15, Rosario 13, Holt 13, Malonzo 9, Pessumal 7, Ahanmisi 6, J. Aguilar 4, R. Aguilar 2, Pinto 2, Thompson 2, Tenorio 1, Cu 0, Mariano 0.

MERALCO 87 - Cansino 15, Almazan 13, Black 11, Hodge 9, Newsome 9, Quinto 8, Rios 5, Torres 5, Pasaol 4, Banchero 4, Bates 4, Reyson 0.

Quarter Scores: 21-22, 44-42, 68-59, 91-87.