Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings rookie guard RJ Abarrientos during the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals Game 5 against San Miguel Beermen. – PBA Images
ANTIPOLO — Barangay Ginebra, save for a laughable first quarter, played full throttle on Friday night, thrashing San Miguel, 121-92, to move a win away from a PBA Governors’ Cup Finals berth.
The Gin Kings erased a 13-point deficit in the first period and never looked back in Game 5 at Ynares Center here.
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“They came out with guns blazing in the beginning of the game. Just like Game 4 all over again, they just came out firing. A lot of worry in the time outs but we kind of got settled,” head coach Tim Cone said.
READ: PBA: Ginebra ‘team effort’ needed to stop San Miguel twin towers
Rookie RJ Abarrientos had 28 points to star for the Gin Kings who saw several players chipping in on the effort that gave the crowd darlings a 3-2 lead in the semifinal showdown between sister teams.
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“We just got it turned around. A lot of contributions from everybody,” said Cone, who also drew 22 points from Scottie Thompson, 18 more from Justin Brownlee and at least 13 points each from both Japeth Aguilar and Maverick Ahanmisi.
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“I just stuck to the system. I just went with the flow on offense and defense,” said Abarrientos, the third overall pick of the last Rookie Draft.
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READ: PBA: ‘San Miguel basketball’ stops Ginebra ‘Never Say Die’ spirit
Import EJ Anosike had 21 points, June Mar Fajardo 17, while CJ Perez and Marcio Lassiter both 16 points each for the Beermen whose stars went frosty in the second period, paving the way for their tormentors’ pull away.
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Ginebra can close out the series in Game 6 this Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
