Panalo muli ang Magnolia kontra Barangay Ginebra sa PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup eliminations, 112-93, nitong Linggo upang pumasok sa quarterfinals.
Sa unang laro sa Smart Araneta Coliseum sa Quezon City, pumasok rin ang Converge sa Last Eight matapos sibakin ang Titan Ultra, 152-119.
Sa unang “Manila Clasico” game noong Agosto 2, nanalo rin ang tropa ni Magnolia coach LA Tenorio, 88-73.
Dahil sa ikalimang sunod na panalo, nangunguna pa rin ang Hotshots (6-3) sa Group B. Sigurado na sila sa next round kahit pa matalo sa Rain or Shine (4-3) sa Oktubre 21.
Tabla naman ang Gin Kings at Meralco Bolts sa ilalim sa kartada 3-5.
Galing ang Ginebra sa 129-111 panalo laban sa Rain or Shine noong Biyernes.
“We really focused on defending the execution of Ginebra,” ani Tenorio.
“I was watching their game against Rain or Shine and I told the team that the Ginebra I saw there was the Ginebra I saw whenever they’re playing in the championship. They’re scary. So I challenged the players against this disciplined, well-coached team, and they responded.”
Pinangunahan ni Zav Lucero ang Magnolia na gumawa ng 21 puntos at siyam na rebound.
Umiskor din ng double digits sina Jerom Lastimosa (16), Mark Barroca (15), import KJ Buffen (14-10), Peter Alfaro (12) at Ian Sangalang (10).
Gumawa si Jordan Murphy ng 18 puntos at pitong rebound para sa Ginebra. Gumawa siya ng 30-13 sa unang laro sa PBA kontra ROS.
Sa unang laro, nag-triple double muli si rookie Juan Gomez — 32 puntos, 12 rebounds at 13 assists.
Iyon ang pang-apat na triple-double ni Gomez de Liano, na unang anibersaryo ng una nyang “TD” kalaban din ang Titan noong season-opening Philippine Cup.
Gumawa si Cameron Clark ng 30 points, samantalang si Justine Baltazar ay may 20 points at 11 boards.
Umangat ang Converge sa 6-4 sa Group A, katabla ng defending champion TNT sa No. 3.
“We’re pretty much just trying to build momentum, especially going toward the playoffs,” ani Gomez de Liano.
“I think we just wanna pretty much play the right way and hopefully continue in the next two games para maganda placing namin.”
Nakulangan naman si coach Delta Pineda dahil pinayagan ng Converge na makalapit ang Titan matapos silang lumanang ng 15 at 20 puntos.
“There’s still more adjustment pa rin po na kailangang gawin. Nakita n’yo naman, first quarter, then second, third, nu’ng fourth ganu’n na naman,” ani Pineda.
Sa kartada 2-8, tapos na ang pag-asa ng Titan.
The scores:
First Game
CONVERGE 152 – Gomez de Liano 32, Clark 30, Baltazar 20, Stockton 16, Abueva 15, Arana 11, Policarpio 11, Tungcab 7, Williams 4, Garcia 4, Clemente 2, Concepcion 0, Santos 0.
TITAN 119 – Brown 31, Munzon 22, Dionisio 16, Garcia 8, Wong 8, Pessumal 7, Omega 5, Caralipio 5, Yu 4, Ular 4, Inigo 3, Deles 2, Amores 2.
Quarters: 38-27; 71-60; 99-90; 152-119
Second Game
MAGNOLIA 112 – Lucero 21, Lastimosa 16, Barroca 15, Buffen 14, Alfaro 12, Sangalang 10, Koon 7, Laput 4, Dela Rosa 4, Andrada 3, Jopia 2, Verano 2, Taha 2, Gomez 0, Gomez de Liano 0.
GINEBRA 93 – Murphy 18, Abarrientos 12, Go 10, R.Aguilar 10,Holt 8, Estil 7, Gray 5, Thompson 5, J.Aguilar 4, Cu 3, Rosario 3, Torres 3, Pinto 3, Abis 2.
Quarters: 34-19; 63-46; 87-64; 112-93