[caption id="attachment_112493" align="alignleft" width="200"] Ginebra's Joe Devance fakes a shot, causing Meralco's Cliff Hodge to jump high as another Meralco player defends in their PBA Philippine Cup match at the University of San Agustin Gym in Iloilo City Saturday night. [/caption] By Jay R. Gotera MANILA - The Barangay Ginebra Kings met again the team they beat in the Governors' Cup finals three months ago and produced the same result: an 83-72 victory over the Meralco Bolts in a PBA Philippine Cup road game in Iloilo City Saturday night. It was Ginebra's fourth win in eight games, lifting the Kings into a tie for sixth to eighth place together with Phoenix and Blackwater. Their sixth straight loss and seventh overall in nine games sent the Bolts tumbling to the bottom of the standings. Joe Devance was Ginebra's main man for the night, leading all scorers with 19 points on top of six rebounds. LA Tenorio added 18 points while Japeth Aguilar chipped in with 17 markers and 12 boards before fouling out late in the game. Scottie Thompson also shone on both ends of the court for Ginebra, scoring just seven points but posting 16 rebounds and seven assists, both game-highs. Reynel Hugnatan was the top scorer for Meralco with 18 points. Chris Newsome added 14 markers and nine rebounds. However, the two combined for just 12 points on field goals, with the remaining 20 markers scored on free throws—a clear indication of Ginebra's defensive clout. The Kings held the Bolts to only 26 percent shooting from the field. The Bolts raced to an early 23-13 lead in the first quarter. But the Kings came charging back behind Thompson's all-around brilliance. Meralco still led, 40-39, at halftime after rookie Ed Daquioag nailed a buzzer-beating step-back three-pointer to end the half. But the complexion of the game changed abruptly in the third quarter after the Kings went on a 12-0 run. Ginebra kept up the pressure in the final quarter, taking a 14-point lead with two minutes left in the game. The Bolts managed to cut Ginebra's lead to eight, but that proved to be the closest they could get as the Kings cruised to victory capped by a buzzer-beating triple by Tenorio. Games Sunday: Blackwater Elite vs. Alaska Aces and TNT KaTropa vs. Star Hotshots.
