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THE Barangay Geneva Gin Kings closed out TNT Tropang Giga’s powerful three-point shot to a low-scoring affair for victory, 85-79, in the PBA 45th Season Philippine Cup at the Cultural and Sports Center of the Foundation of the University of Angeles in Pampanga on Friday night.
The Gin Kings scored their third straight win and took a solo lead in the team’s standings with a 7-2 win-loss record, mostly thanks to a solid defense that limited TNT to a poor 28-for-96 shot clip .
Geneva scoring point guard Stanley Pringle finished with a double-double performance of 28 points and 12 rebounds, including a pair of lay-ups that held TNT at bay.
Big man Japeth Aguilar also had a double-double of 19 scores and 11 rebounds, while field general LA Tenorio had 15 points and handed out nine dimes for Geneva to break the tie at the top of the rankings.
“We are proud [in] our defense. Kshave what happens with the offense, that’s enough ‘our defense is there (No matter what happens on offense, our defense is there), ”Tenorio said after his team disabled TNT’s deadly three-point shot.
The Tropang Giga, which slipped to a score of 6-3 in second place, was uncharacteristic in the three-point range with a lousy 12 percent clip, eliminating just five 3-pointers of 41 rainbow country attempts.
“I think they had a bad night shooting in the 3-point area. The 3-point shot is about having fresh legs, and I don’t think they had fresh legs tonight, ”Geneva coach Tim Cone said at the post-match press conference.
With a couple of games left in the knockout round, the league’s most winning coach added that they are in playoff mode right now as the team looks for ways to win.
“We are just trying to find a win. This is playoff basketball for us, ”Cone said.
Jayson Castro had 19 points and five rebounds for TNT, which suffered its first straight loss in the PBA “bubble.”
On the flip side, the NLEX Road Warriors stunned defending champion San Miguel Beermen, 124-90, to extend their winning streak to three games in sight of a playoff spot.
Michael Miranda dumped 22 markers. Kevin Alas scored 19 points. JR Quinahan and Kiefer Ravena contributed 14 each. Jericho Cruz delivered 11. And Semerad added 10 on a balancing night to bring NLEX to a score of 5-4.
“The size of the defect of our condition.north for three weeks (there is a big difference in our condition now compared to three weeks ago). We are now much sharper and more cohesive both on offense and defense, ”said NLEX coach Yeng Guiao.
The Beermen, who fell to a score of 5-4, got 23 points from Paul Zamar and 11 markers from Von Pessumal.
In the other games, the Alaska Aces beat Northport Batang Pier, 102-94, while Terrafirma Dyip outlasted Blackwater Elite, 110-101.
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