Ginebra clobbers Converge to fortify bid for playoff bonus
Ginebra Gin Kings’ Christian Standhardinger driving against Converge defenders in a PBA Philippine Cup game. –PBA IMAGES
Coasting in the first two frames, Barangay Ginebra cranked things up in the second half on Saturday night to whip Converge, 105-93 and improve its positioning in the race for the much-coveted playoff protection in the PBA Philippine Cup.
Christian Standhardinger was big once again, falling short of a rare triple-double with 33 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists in the duel at Aquilino Pimentel Jr. International Convention Center in Cagayan de Oro City.
Five other players from the crowd darling chipped in twin-digit scores in a blowout that sent the FiberXers crashing down after notching their breakthrough win over Meralco last week.
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Ginebra thus improved to a 7-3 win-loss record, trailing its mighty and unbeaten sister team San Miguel, which has won eight straight outings.
Dave Murrell, the former Magnolia forward plucked from the unrestricted free agents list a few days ago, saw just about five minutes of action, scoring three points and grabbing a pair of rebounds.
Alec Stockton had 32 points, six boards, and six assists as the young guard continued to prove his worth as an ace for the slumping telco club, which, with a 1-9 mark and with a game against TNT remaining, could still improve—albeit slightly—its horrendous performance in the centerpiece tournament.
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Ginebra, which also drew all-around performances from Scottie Thompson (10 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists) and Maverick Ahanmisi (17 points, six rebounds, and seven assists), led by as many as 21 points in the rout that extended its winning streak to four games.
The traditional powerhouse will try to sustain that tear against NLEX on May 5.
PBA Scores:
GINEBRA 105 – Standhardinger 33, Ahanmisi 17, Cu 13, J.Aguilar 12, Thompson 10, Pinto 10, Murrell 3, Pringle 3, Pessumal 3, Gumaru 1, David 0, Onwubere 0, Tenorio 0, R.Aguilar 0.
CONVERGE 93 – Stockton 32, Arana 18, Melecio 10, Winston 9, Delos Santos 7, Maagdenberg 7, Santyos 5, Caralipio 2, Fornilos 2, Flores 1, Nieto 0.
Quarterscores: 24-21, 48-48, 83-69, 105-93.
