Barangay Ginebra staved off elimination and grinded out a pulsating 94-87 victory over Meralco in Game 2 of their best-of-three quarterfinals series on Friday, July 29, at the FilOil-EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The Gin Kings lived up to their "never-say-die" mantra anew and showed better resolve in the highly physical contest before pulling away late in the final frame to tie the series 1-1 and force a rubbermatch Game 3 on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
With their backs against the wall, Ginebra rode the broad shoulders of its twin towers in Japeth Aguilar and Christian Standhardinger especially during the crucial 9-4 spurt that gave them a comfortable 94-86 lead with 1:02 left in the game.
Ginebra head coach Tim Cone lauded his players for matching the energy and the physicality of Meralco.
“This game was not for boys. It was a man’s game today. I mean it was physical, it was rough and tumble, blood on the floor. They’re trying to do something that they haven’t done against us and we know that and we have so much respect for them. That just show their desire, to come out and play physically,” said Cone
“We’re trying to match that physicality and for us to come out and play well. We have to continue to match that physicality. That’s the name of the game in this series. This series is not for young men or boys. It’s for men,” he added.
Aguilar dropped 25 points, eight of which came in the payoff period on an 8-of-14 shooting from the field, and added eight rebounds and five blocks. Standhardinger provided support with a double-double of 15 points, 12 rebounds along with seven assists.
LA Tenorio, after going scoreless in Game 1, bounced back with 13 points, while Scottie Thompson also put up another all-around game with 11 points, nine assists and six rebounds.
Cliff Hodge, known for his defensive prowess, showed up on the offensive end with 25 points while Allein Maliksi and Alvin Pasaol chipped in 14 points apiece.
It was the Kings who actually seized control of the game late in the first half after unleashing a 12-3 blast for an 11-point lead, 56-45.
Eager to finally end the seasons of playoff futility against Ginebra, Meralco retaliated with a 10-0 run in the third with Alvin Pasaol scoring the last six for a 66-65 lead.
The Gin Kings regained foothold behind baskets from Aguilar and Tenorio but Hodge went on a personal 5-0 run capped by a booming triple with two second left in the third to put Meralco on the driver seat, 71-69, heading into the final frame.