BARANGAY Ginebra drew first blood in the PBA Commissioner's Cup finals versus the Bay Area Dragons, fighting with grit and guts in pulling off a 96-81 victory in a Christmas Day special at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.
Ginebra's starting group of Justin Brownlee, LA Tenorio, Christian Standhardinger, Scottie Thompson and Jamie Malonzo all played with tremendous hustle, leading the team to the crucial head start in the race-to-four series.
Brownlee top scored with 28 points plus 13 rebounds, Standhardinger had his own double-double with 16 markers and 10 boards while Tenorio put in a conference high 22 points going with three assists, three steals and two rebounds.
Thompson was pure hustle in their third quarter breakaway and finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, six assists, two blocks and one steal while Malonzo contributed 10 boards plus three markers.
Together, they were a tremendous group giving the cheering Ginebra die-hards a super special Christmas treat.
Sponsored content: "A Christmas Day game is extra special, and our guys treated it that way," said Ginebra coach Tim Cone of the emphatic Game 1 win replicating their conquest of the Dragons in their elims tussle.
The Kings try to make it 2-0 as the series resumes with Game 2 over at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.
Tenorio said the big key was coming into the game with the proper mindset.
"Mahirap because of all the distractions in this season. Tayong mga Pinoy, maraming gatherings in this season. Good thing, nakapag-focus kami and kept in mind that it is very important to get this game and set the tone," said Tenorio.
The Ginebra chief playmaker delivered big time while being away from his family for the first time on Christmas Day.
Sponsored content: "It's a blessing na rin that my family get to spend vacation, and while I wasn't able to join them, I'm playing in the finals before a big crowd. Ginamit ko na lang motivation, sabi ko I might as well win this thing," said Tenorio.
For Thompson, it's about playing tough defense versus the tournament's No. 1 scoring team.
"We made sure to limit their touches, especially their import. We stayed aggressive as we wanted this game badly for us to take control," he said.
Cone, meanwhile, thought they're a little lucky with Bay Area hotshot Hayden Blankley getting his shots but firing blanks.
The sweet-shooting Dragon was 0-of-9 from deep in this game.
Still, the Dragons, led by Andrew Nicholson who finished with 27 markers and 12 boards, set the pace early on before the Kings seized control late in the second quarter and sustained the fire through the second half.
With a better field-goal shooting and better effort on tending the boards, the Kings took the half at 45-40.
Tenorio, Standhardinger and Brownlee led the way offensively, with a Tenorio trey pushing the Kings ahead for the first time at 36-34.
And the Kings sustained the push as Nicholson had to sit down precious minutes after committing an unsportsmanlike foul on Tenorio.
Thompson fuelled their breakaway a little later with tremendous hustles, diving for loose balls here, soaring high for blocks there and fighting hard for rebounds in each opportunity. (SB)
