Barangay Ginebra recalibrated on the return of coach Tim Cone and gained a sure spot in the PBA Philippine Cup best-of-three quarterfinals with a game to spare via a 100-93 disposal of NorthPort Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Gin Kings, with tremendous boost from their backcourt, blasted the Batang Pier badly in the middle quarters, 60-34, and climbed to solo third with a 7-3 win-loss card.
Snapping out of back-to-back losses to TNT and Meralco, Cone and his crew assured themselves of a Top Six finish while pushing NorthPort on the brink of elimination at 3-7.
Guards Scottie Thompson (with 23 points) and John Pinto (18) led the scoring parade as the Kings scored a heartwarming win to welcome Cone in his return from his stint with the Miami Heat in the NBA Summer League.
Thompson flirted with a triple-double as he also came through with 15 rebounds and eight assists with three steals and three blocks in a superb all-around game.
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Pinto provided a big help off the bench with 18 markers (4-of-6 from the arc), six boards and three dole-outs, and so did Jeff Chan with 11 points, two assists and two rebounds.
The Kings won't be denied as Japeth Aguilar (14) LA Tenorio (13) and Christian Standhardinger (9-10-6) put in their shares as starters as the Kings moved ahead of the Magnolia Hotshots (6-3).
Ginebra closes out its elims stint versus Phoenix Super LPG on Thursday.
A win will allow the Gin Kings to catch up with the TNT Tropang Giga at No. 2, but will settle for lower seeding due to an inferior quotient.
TNT walloped Ginebra, 106-92, last July 10.
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In his second game in his comeback from an ankle injury, Robert Bolick erupted for 29 points, but that was not enough to save the Batang Pier from the crucial defeat.
Jamie Malonzo, Arwind Santos and Kevin Ferrer added 19, 14 and 13, respectively, for the Batang Pier who actually enjoyed the initiative in the early goings.
The Batang Pier took the first quarter at 26-20 before the Kings hit their stride and rolled ahead, 47-42, at the half. (SB)
The Scores:
GINEBRA 100 - Thompson 23, Pinto 18, J.Aguilar 14, Tenorio 13, Chan 11, Standhardinger 9, Pringle 8, Mariano 4, Dillinger 0.
NORTHPORT 93 - Bolick 29, Malonzo 19, Santos 14, Ferrer 13, Balanza 6, Taha 6, Sumang 4, Calma 2, Dela Cruz 0, Ayaay 0.
QUARTERS: 20-26, 47-42, 80-60, 100-93.
