BARANGAY Ginebra added to Alaska’s growing woes in the PBA Governors Cup
after the defending champions scored a runaway 94-80 win Saturday night at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
The Kings scored the first eight points of the match to take control early on, and then withstood a gallant comeback by the Aces down the stretch to notch their fourth straight win in the season-ending meet.
The league’s crowd darlings kept their hold of second place behind unbeaten leader Star Hotshots following the Petron Saturday Special. Just behind the Kings are grandslam-seeking San Miguel Beermen at 3-1 and NLEX Road Warriors at 5-2.
Alaska fell further at the bottom of the standings with a 0-6 card and extended the team’s losing skid to 14 straight games dating back to April during the mid-season Commissioner’s Cup.
The setback likewise spoiled the grand tribute the franchise prepared for veteran wingman and Cebu basketball icon Dondon Hontiveros at halftime.
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Five players finished in double figures for the Kings led by import Justin Brownlee with 22 points and Joe Devance with 19.
Sophomore guard Scottie Thompson came two points shy of tallying a triple double with eight points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Ginebra led by as many as 68-46 on a Devance basket just as the third quarter was coming to an end.
But just when everybody thought the Kings were ready to coast, the Aces suddenly came back to life.
Back-up guard Abel Galliguez came off the bench and provided the spark the Aces needed. Calvin Abueva, Sonny Thoss, and JV Casio then took over from there and pushed the team within 78-87 entering the final two minutes.
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Devance, Brownlee, and Japeth Aguilar however, came to the team’s rescue by teaming up in a 7-2 windup that secured the win.
Abueva had a game-high 22 points in a losing cause for the Aces, who also got 11 from Thoss and 10 from import LaDontae Henton.
