Barangay Ginebra rides Scottie Thompson's all-around game to deny Meralco in QF opener

Scottie Thompson pressed his playoff mode on as he lifted Barangay Ginebra to a 100-92 win over rival Meralco in Game 1 of their best-of-three quarterfinals in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

The do-it-all guard stuffed the stat sheet with 23 points, seven rebounds, six assists, four steals, and one block to help the Ging Kings move a win away from booking a semifinals berth.

Ginebra had to keep up with the hot outside shooting of the Bolts, who buried four three-pointers late in the third period capped by a buzzer-beating triple from the returning Akil Mitchel as the Gin Kings headed to the fourth holding on to a slim 78-76 lead. 

But Thompson and another veteran in Japeth Aguilar took over in the payoff period with the latter unleashing five straight points to make it an 85-82 cushion. 

Thompson then converted seven of their last 15 points, including a basket that sent them to a 96-89 lead as Meralco struggled to make baskets amid a pesky defense from Ginebra. 

Justin Brownlee churned out 23 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and a steal while Aguilar posted 19 markers, nien boards, one dime, and one block. Ginebra fielded just eight players in the grind-out victory. 

Scores:

Barangay Ginebra 100 – Thompson 23, Brownlee 23, J.Aguilar 19, Abarrientos 14, Rosario 8, Malonzo 7, Holt 6, Ahanmisi 0.

Meralco 92 – Newsome 20, Mitchell 19, Rios 13, Banchero 12, Quinto 11, Almazan 8, Black 5, Hodge 4, Bates 0, Cansino 0.

Quarters: 24-17, 50-47, 78-76, 100-92.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News