Barangay Ginebra claimed its fourth win in six games after overwhelming Blackwater, 112-98, in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup on Tuesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Seven-time PBA champion Scottie Thompson’s triple-double of 21 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds was enough to propel the Gin Kings against the Bossing, who put up a fight first before falling down.
Barangay Ginebra nearly squandered a 17-point lead in the third canto after letting the Bossing close within three points, 85-82, but back-to-back treys from Thompson and Maverick Ahanmisi just before the frame ended made them stretch that separation entering the last quarter.
The Gin Kings saw their lead balloon to 19, 105-86, in the fourth quarter as they pulled away in the ballgame.
Thompson, who was then a rebound shy of a triple-double performance, entered the game once more under three minutes left after exiting at the 7:40 mark and finally notched the feat after grabbing an offensive board with seven seconds remaining in regulation.
Coach Tim Cone said they needed an attitude change after Blackwater pulled off an upset against the Gin Kings in their first outing.
“I think, we just needed kind of — we talked about it — an attitude change. We needed to come out with a little bit more a higher level of intensity,” Cone said.
Answering that call were Justin Brownlee, who had 20 points and three blocks for the winning cause, while RJ Abarrientos (15 points), Stephen Holt (14 points), and Japeth Aguilar (14 points).
The Bossing, meanwhile, saw their record fall to 3-4 after the defeat at the capital.
George King put up 21 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists for the losing side, while Troy Rosario also had 18 points.
The Scores:
GINEBRA 112 – Thompson 21, Brownlee 20, Abarrientos 15, Holt 14, J.Aguilar 14, Ahanmisi 8, Go 7, Tenorio 6, Mariano 4, Pinto 3, R.Aguilar 0
BLACKWATER 98 – King 21, Rosario 18, Barefield 15, David 13, Chua 12, Ilagan 6, Escoto 5, Kwekuteye 3, Mitchell 3, Suerte 2, Corteza 0, Montalbo 0, Ponferrada 0
QUARTERS: 36-22, 67-58, 91-82, 112-98
