Gin Kings overpower Bolts in q'finals opener

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel had enough in the tank to quell a late challenge and defeat the Meralco Bolts, 88-81, in Game 1 of their best-of-three quarterfinals series on Monday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Justin Brownlee led Ginebra with 25 points, as the duo of Joe Devance and Greg Slaughter combined for 27 points as starters. Japeth Aguilar, meanwhile, added 10 and 10 off the bench.

Justin Brownlee vs Chris Newsome

Down by 10 early in the third period, the Gin Kings uncorked a 13-3 run to tie the game off a Joe Devance trey, 53-all. Another 10-0 run to enter the final two minutes of the third put Ginebra ahead, 64-55.

With 5:24 to go in the fourth, Jared Dillinger, Baser Amer and Ranidel De Ocampo ignited their own streak, enough to trim Ginebra’s lead to one, 77-76.

But another 7-0 run by Tim Cone’s squad made it an eight-point game entering the final two minutes.

Dillinger settling for a split and Justin Brownlee hitting a three were enough to give Ginebra the victory.

Baser Amer led Meralco off the bench with 15 points in 24 minutes on the floor. Import Arinze Onuaku had a relatively quiet night offensively with 12 points and 18 rebounds, as Jared Dillinger and Anjo Caram led the starters with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Ranidel De Ocampo and Chris Newsome struggled for a combined 11 points off a paltry 5 of 21 clip from the field. — LA, GMA News