After 3 years Ginebra returns to PBA finals

(Photo credits to Google)

Barangay Ginebra ousted San Miguel Beer in the do-or-die game for PBA Governors cup and ended semi finals in 117-92, Tuesday night at Araneta Coliseum.

Kings reigned after 3 years of drought in which is their 21st final appearance in franchise history and now snatched the right to battle Meralco Bolts for the finals starting on Friday, October 7.

“I’m still in a little bit of shock,” said Ginebra head coach Tim Cone. “I had a lot of prepared speeches to the locker room and coming in here and talking about how proud I was to the guys even though we lost and everything, so I had my losing speeches ready. I didn’t have a winning speech ready.” (cited in Giongco, 2016).

“Such a redemptive win. We got redemption from the last one and we were really embarrassed in Game 4 and to come out here and play this well in Game 5 was really redemption for us,” said Cone, whose squad bounced back from a 101-72 loss on Sunday. (cited in Giongco, 2016).

Much of the game points was from rookie Scottie Thompson with a career-high 24 points, 15 rebounds, including 5 on the offensive glass, plus 3 assists, a steal, and a block.

Alex Cabagnot, Arwind Santos, and Marcio Lassiter led the way in SMB’s second-quarter fightback however power of Ginbera Kings this night is unprecenteded.

The Scores

GINEBRA 117 – Brownlee 26, Thompson 24, Mercado 22, Tenorio 18, Mariano 11, Devance 6, Aguilar 5, Caguioa 2, Helterbrand 2, Marcelo 1, Cruz 0, Villamor 0.

SAN MIGUEL 92 – Santos 24, Millsap 18, Lassiter 11, Cabagnot 10, Heruela 9, David 7, Fajardo 7, Reyes 3, Ross 3, Arana 0, De Ocampo 0, Espinas 0, Semerad 0, Tubid 0. Quarters: 33-12, 45-38, 81-53, 117-92

Source: (http://sports.inquirer.net/224718/ginebra-ends-slump-ousts-san-miguel-to-return-to-finals)

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