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The Barangay Geneva Gin Kings earned their ticket to the semifinals after beating Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 81-73, on Friday night in the PBA Season 45 Philippine Cup at the Cultural and Sports Center of the Foundation of the University of Angeles in Angeles, Pampanga.
Japeth Aguilar scored 23 points from an efficient 11 of 15 shots on 11 rebounds to bring Geneva one step closer to the elusive Philippine Cup crown last won by the Gin Kings in the 2006-2007 season.
The big man Aljon Mariano also delivered for Geneva with 11 points on nine boards, while Prince Caperal scored 11 scores in just 14 minutes of play.
Rain or Shine was able to limit the departure of Geneva’s top scorer Stanley Pringle. However, the explosive guard sank crucial baskets for the Gin Kings.
Pringle knocked down a jump shot at 2:57, followed by a layup to give his team a 76-71 lead with 2:12 left.
“We put the ball in his hands down the stretch and we hope he comes closer to us. We are not going to force that on all possessions because it gets too exhausted and the defense becomes too predictable, ”said Geneva coach Time Cone.
Pringle leads the Gin Kings in the PBA “bubble” with 18.7 points per game.
“But down the stretch, we’re going to try to find a way to free him and allow him to do his thing and that’s what he did,” Cone said of Pringle, who finished with 10 points, five dimes and two rebounds. .
Veteran court general LA Tenorio dished out eight assists and earned the distinction of being part of the 3,000-assists club. He is only the 11th player in league history to accomplish the feat and only the second active player on the roster alongside Alex Cabagnot of San Miguel.
Mark Borboran and Javee Mocon had 13 and 12 points, respectively, for the Elasto Painters, who are now kicked out of the PBA “bubble.”
The top-seeded Gin Kings will now await the winner of the life-or-death quarter-final game between fourth-seeded San Miguel Beermen and fifth-seeded Meralco Bolts on Sunday.
The Bolts forced a game of rubber after stunning five-time defending champion Beermen, 78-71.
Veteran great Reynel Hugnatan and rookie Aaron Black combined for 30 points as the Bolts nullified the two-time lead to the Beermen’s victory, taking the series into a winner-take-all battle Sunday.
“The boys played with a lot of heart. They just played hard, ”Meralco coach Norman Black said.
We didn’t shoot well, but our defense held up, ”he added.
San Miguel’s top scorer, Moala Tautuaa, had 14 points and Marcio Lassiter 12 points.
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