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PBA: Stellar Slaughter leads Ginebra past GlobalPort
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Greg Slaughter (#20) draws the attention of four GlobalPort defenders. KC Cruz
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel locked up the top spot of the PLDT MyDSL 2014 PBA Philippine Cup with a win over GlobalPort Batang Pier, 108-92, on Friday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
2013 number one overall pick Greg Slaughter was named Player of the Game, logging a career-high 23 points along with 13 rebounds. Japeth Aguilar had 21 points and eight rebounds, while Mac Baracael tallied 18 points and five rebounds. Chris Ellis and Mark Caguioa each had 11 points, with Ellis adding six rebounds and Caguioa, six assists. LA Tenorio registered a double-double with 10 points, 11 assists and five rebounds.
"We were ready in this game," said Ginebra head coach Ato Agustin, who went on to praise his team's transition game and defensive effort. But he also took note of his team's poise to beat a resilient GlobalPort squad. "Hindi kami nagpa-panic ngayon. Kahit nakaka-recover yung opponent namin nakaka-focus kami sa gameplan namin."
Ginebra, 11-2, won their second straight game and seven of their last eight. Even if second-placer Rain or Shine ties them in the win-loss column, Ginebra owns the series tiebreaker after beating them 97-84 on November 24.
Agustin says he's not gunning for a particular opponent in the quarterfinals and wants to just focus on his team's play:
"Kahit sino na ang matapat sa amin, ang importante lang is we continue what we're doing," he said.
"Kahit sino na ang matapat sa amin, ang importante lang is we continue what we're doing," he said.
Moving forward, Agustin wants his team to limit the easy points they give to their opponents, pointing out that they were outscored 25-17 on second-chance points and fast break points. "We need to be aggressive all the time, kada offense o defense man," he finished.
GlobalPort, 5-9, lost six of their last seven games and are perilously close to elimination. Slightly ahead are Meralco and Barako Bull with 5-8 records while Alaska lurks beneath at 4-9. Batang Pier's quarterfinals hopes now rely on Barako Bull beating Alaska on January 19, or else they will have to earn a postseason berth via a playoff game.
Ginebra built an 11-4 lead early as aggressive play from Mac Baracael and Japeth Aguilar yielded and-one's. GlobalPort was intent on running after defensive stops, knotting the game at 11-all as Marvin Hayes finished on the break, but Aguilar imposed his will on the block, and tag-teamed with Chris Ellis' fast break finishes to combine for the Barangay's last 17 points in the frame, 28-20.
With Sol Mercado and Terrence Romeo carving up the lanes, GlobalPort overcame Ginebra's low post scoring to trim the lead to two, 42-40, after Mercado split from the line with four minutes to play.
A Greg Slaughter and-one cut their momentum, though, and Ginebra repeatedly exposed Batang Pier's defense in the paint. GlobalPort leaned on Eric Menk to score from the charity stripe, trailing 58-49 at halftime.
Sol Mercado stretches for a layup, part of his 20-point outing. KC Cruz
After the break, Ginebra pounded GlobalPort on the break, 67-51, highlighted by a one-handed Aguilar slam off a no-look pass from LA Tenorio. When Aguilar picked up his fifth personal foul, the Barangay settled into a half court game and ran the offense through Slaughter. The rookie scored their next 10 points to offset Mercado and RR Garcia on the other end, 77-61.
Batang Pier took advantage in the last four minutes when neither Aguilar nor Slaughter were on the floor, limiting Ginebra to one field goal while Romeo quarterbacked a 12-3 run to close the frame, 80-73.
GlobalPort narrowed the lead to five, 84-79, after back-to-back makes by Eric Menk in the paint, but that would be the closest they would come, as a Baracael trey highlighted an 11-5 swing for Ginebra, 95-84.
Aguilar returned to the floor with five minutes to play, and he and Slaughter traded baskets with Jewel Ponferada to hold off GlobalPort until the final buzzer.
Sol Mercado captained the Batang Pier with 20 points and 10 assists. Eric Menk added 17 points and 14 rebounds. Jewel Ponferrada notched 16 points and eight rebounds. Terrence Romeo tallied 13 points and issued five assists. - RAF, GMA News
The Barangay shot 36-of-74 (48.6 percent) from the floor while holding GlobalPort to 31-of-85 (36.5 percent).
The scores:
Ginebra 108 - Slaughter 23, Aguilar 21, Baracael 18, Ellis 11, Caguioa 11, Tenorio 10, Reyes 8, Helterbrand 2, Monfort 2, Mamaril 2, Ababou 0, Urbiztondo 0
GlobalPort 92 - Mercado 20, Menk 17, Ponferrada 16, Romeo 13, Garcia 9, Nabong 7, Hayes 6, Chua 2, Salva 2, Belencion 0, Najorda 0, Salvador 0
Quarter scoring: 28-20, 58-49, 80-73, 108-92
