Nelson Asaytono headlines final 10 in PBA 50 Greatest list
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Ginebra overpowers Rain or Shine to clinch quarterfinal spot
Barangay Ginebra blasts off Rain or Shine, 120-92, registering their biggest winning margin in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Wednesday, January 22.
Head coach Tim Cone called it the Gin Kings' "best game" of the conference as they got back on track after dropping their last two games, improving to 7-4 and moving up to sixth place with one game left in the elimination stage.
“We hadn’t put a good game together this conference and tonight was one of those games where everything came together. We played well defensively, we executed really well offensively, and we shot the ball well,” said Cone.
“It was really our best game of the conference and it couldn’t come at a better time right now when we’re struggling to get into that top six position and getting ready for the playoffs,” he added.
PHOTO COURTESY: PBA
As usual, Ginebra reinforcement Justin Brownlee led the charge for the Gin Kings with 29 points together with 13 rebounds and six assists.
Scottie Thompson netted 22 markers along with eight boards, and eight dimes, while Troy Rosario added 14 points with seven of his eight rebounds coming from the offensive end.
The Gin Kings will conclude their elimination round assignment when they face the Meralco Bolts on January 29 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Rain or Shine’s import Deon Thompson registered 23 markers and 15 rebounds for the Elasto Painters, while Anton Asistio and Adrian Nocum led the local unit with 14 and 13 points, respectively, in the losing cause.
Rain or Shine dropped to 6-4 for the seventh spot with its last two matches against the NLEX Road Warriors on Saturday, January 25, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo and will battle the TNT Tropang Giga on January 31 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The Elasto Painters will need one win to assure themselves of a quarterfinals berth.
The Scores:
BARANGAY GINEBRA 120 – Brownlee 29, Thompson 22, Rosario 14, Abarrientos 14, J.Aguilar 12, Malonzo 9, Holt 8, R.Aguilar 4, Mariano 3, Pessumal 3, Ahanmisi 2, Pinto 0, Adamos 0, Cu 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 92 – D. Thompson 23, Asistio 14, Nocum 13, Clarito 12, Tiongson 7, Belga 7, Caracut 6, Malonzo 4, Lemetti 3, Demusis 2, Santillan 1, Norwood 0, Datu 0.
Quarter Scores : 30-23, 66-45, 91-72, 120-92.
