2014 PBA Governors’ Cup: Beermen and Ginebra take out separate foes!

Both LA Tenorio (top) and Sol Mercado (bottom) came up big for
their respective ball clubs last night in the PBA.

First Game:
The Beermen trailed by a ton in this game, but that didn’t hamper their spirits. Instead, San Miguel finished strong in the fourth quarter to thwart the Batang Pier, 102-99. Behind the awesome efforts of June Mar Fajardo, Reggie Williams, and Arwind Santos, SMB stormed back from as many 17 points down to deal GlobalPort its fourth defeat in five outings. This is also the second game in a row where the Batang Pier led by double-figures and still collapsed.

GlobalPort had a mammoth first half, scoring 59 points and utilizing its transition game to the extreme. Dior Lowhorn was an imposing presence inside, too. Things, however, unraveled in the second half when SMB tightened its screws on defense and just went to the vaunted inside-outside combo of June Mar and Williams. The Batang Pier also had trouble negating their size disadvantage. They were outrebounded, 60-46, by SMB, which resulted in 22 second-chance points for the Beermen. In contrast, coach Pido Jarencio’s wards scored just 8 markers off the offensive glass.

Best Player or MVP?: Fajardo had yet another beastly showing here. The super soph tallied a total of 26 points, 27 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots while also shooting 11/18 from the field. The only chink in his armor? He shot 40% from the stripe. Still, he was, by far, the best local player in this game. He has, in fact, been the best local of this PBA season, which means he has a strong chance of winning not just this conference’s Best Player citation, but also the coveted Most Valuable Player plum for the entire 2013-2014 campaign.

Second Game:
After a lackluster first half, the Ginebra Gin Kings woke up in the third and fourth quarters to pave the way for a huge bounce-back win, 98-70, over the hapless Barako Bull Energy Cola. The two teams figured in a first half fraught with awful FG shooting and ended up tied at the break, 33-all. And while Barako Bull continued to suffer through anemic shooting, the Gin Kings found their bearings in the second half. Ginebra unloaded a punishing 22-0 blast bridging the third and fourth stanzas to put the outcome beyond doubt.

The Energy Cola lost their fifth straight contest, and there really is no other culprit apart from the fact they shot horribly. They made just 28% of their field goals, including just 30% from the 2-point area. Import Eric Wise typified this struggle, shooting 5/18 from the floor and finishing with a conference-low 16 markers. Barako also got outworked on the boards, 67-45, and they, consequently, gave up 18 second-chance points.

LA’s Response: After pretty much sputtering in his first few contests this conference, Gilas Pilipinas playmaker LA Tenorio brought his A-game here. The former Blue Eagle delivered a game-high 22 points on 7/11 FG shooting while also handing out 5 assists and grabbing 4 rebounds. He also shot 6/7 from the line and had just 1 turnover. This was Tenorio at his finest, and coach Jeff Cariaso will need his #1 PG to continue being productive if he wants Ginebra to reach the PBA’s pinnacle once again.

Game Recaps by Rey Joble/InterAKTV:

SAN MIGUEL BEER over GLOBALPORT, 102-99

June Mar Fajardo scored 26 points, grabbed 27 rebounds, and blocked four shots to lead the San Miguel Beermen to a come-from-behind 102-99 victory over GlobalPort on Tuesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Beermen booked their fourth victory in six games in the PLDT Home Telpad Governors’ Cup after GlobalPort collapsed for the second straight match after a double-digit first half lead.

“Credit to coach Pido (Jarencio), they came out ready to play and we didn’t,” said San Miguel Beer coaching consultant Todd Purves.

“Fortunately, we came out ready to finish.”

The Batang Pier led by as many as 17 points in the first half before going into the break with a 60-44 bubble.

But San Miguel Beer steadily chipped away at the deficit, coming to within one, 82-81, heading into the final period.

GlobalPort still led, 91-87, early in the fourth quarter when the Beermen unleashed an 11-0 run to take the driver’s seat, 98-91.

The Batang Pier charged back, coming to within three points, 100-97, on two free throws from Alex Cabagnot.

GlobalPort had a chance to come even closer, but Fajardo forced GlobalPort import Dior Lowhorn into a tough shot. Fajardo then nailed two free throws to push the Beermend edge back to five, 102-97.

Cabagnot scored quickly to put the Batang Pier behind by just a single basket. GlobalPort sent Arwind Santos to the line, but the reigning Most Valuable Player missed both foul shots.

GlobalPort had a golden chance to tie the game, but Terrence Romeo couldn’t put up an attempt, allowing the Beermen to escape with the win.

Purves attributed part of the team’s early struggles in the game to the depleted roster of the Beermen, who were still missing Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross, and Paolo Hubalde.

“Our injured players are not practicing yet,” said Purves. “We’re blessed with having other guys stepping up. We had to make some strategic adjustments, it’s a matter of effort.”

Import Reggie Williams added 23 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists, while Santos had 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Lowhorn scored 38 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Batang Pier, who squandered a 20-point advantage in the first half against the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers in their last outing. Jay Washington added 14 points and 10 rebounds for GlobalPort, who fell into a tie for last place with a 1-4 record.

SMB 102 – Fajardo 26, Williams 23, Santos 18, Mercado 10, Kramer 7, Tubid 6, Lanete 6, Lutz 6, Maierhofer 0, Duncil 0, Chua 0.
GLO 99 – Lowhorn 38, Washington 14, Cabagnot 13, Romeo 11, Menk 6, Lingganay 5, Yee 4, Matias 2, Ponferada 2, Hayes 2, Salvador 2, Garcia 0.
QS: 24-27, 44-59, 81-82, 102-99

Reggie Williams skies for the slamma jamma against GlobalPort!

Sol Mercado turns the corner against Alex Cabagnot.

Terrence Romeo drives strong to the baseline past Ronald Tubid.

GINEBRA over BARAKO BULL, 98-70

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel flexed its muscles in the second half for an impressive 98-70 victory over Barako Bull on Tuesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Coming off their first defeat of the PLDT Home Telpad Governors’ Cup, the Gin Kings went on a blistering 22-0 run to bridge the third and fourth quarters to take Barako Bull out completely.

“The best thing about tonight is us being able to bounce back from our loss,” said Ginebra coach Jeffrey Cariaso. “Tonight, we showed character.”

Ginebra took back a share of first place in the standings alongside San Mig Coffee and Talk ‘N Text.

“We came out tonight focused, ready to play, ready to execute the gameplan,” said Cariaso.

It was a tight game all throughout the first half, with Barako Bull keeping in pace with Ginebra for a 33-all tie at the break.

The Gin Kings were leading, 58-51, before they put together their hellacious surge for a 80-51 advantage that swept away Barako Bull completely.

“It was our defense that kept us in the ballgame,” said Cariaso. “Sumabay na yung offense sa second half.”

LA Tenorio masterminded Ginebra’s breakaway with 22 points and five assists.

“We just came out aggressive after the first half, kasi medyo flat yung start namin,” said Tenorio after the game.

“Naging lesson sa amin yung game namin against San Mig Coffee. Naging wake-up call sa amin na marami pa kaming kailangan pag-aralan as a team.”

Barako Bull lost its fifth straight game to fall into last place at 1-5.

GIN 98 – Tenorio 22, Mason 16, Slaughter 11, Aguilar 10, Ellis 9, Helterbrand 9, Baracael 6, Reyes 5, Ababou 3, Mamaril 3, Knuttel 2, Faundo 2, Monfort 0, Urbiztondo 0, Caguioa 0.
BAR 70 – Wise 16, Pennisi 10, Thiele 8, Najorda 7, Jensen 6, Fortuna 5, Buenafe 5, Lastimosa 3, Miller 3, Miranda 3, Marcelo 2, Intal 2, Deutchman 0.
QS: 14-18, 33-33, 68-51, 98-70