BARANGAY Ginebra San Miguel overcame Meralco’s toughness to score a 91-87 win at the start of their best-of-seven championship series of Season 44 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup on Tuesday at the Araneta Coliseum.The Gin Kings relied on Japeth Aguilar’s defensive play when he blocked Allen Durham’s potential go-ahead basket to preserve their 89-87 lead enroute to securing Game 1.Game 2 is on Friday in Lucena City.“We knew that Durham would take charge so I focused on him defensively. I’m hoping we sustain or play better the next game,” said Aguilar, who scattered eight of his 16 points in the last quarter in addition to his three blocks.Justin Brownlee, who led the Gin Kings with 38 points and 16 rebounds, calmly sank two free throws to provide Ginebra a 91-87 breather after Aguilar’s big block on Durham.“Japeth’s game-saving block at the end of the game. It is really nice to see him do that defensively. He does that defensively but that was really spectacular,” said Cone.LA Tenorio and Stanley Pringle added 14 and 10 points, respectively, for the Gin Kings.Meralco built a 61-51 cushion midway in the third quarter, but Ginebra recovered in the fourth period to counter with an 80-73 lead behind Aguilar’s dunk with 7:40 left in the game with 10,078 people in attendance.Chris Newsome refused to give up, scoring nine of Meralco’s 16 points in the last period to regain the lead for the Bolts, 85-84, with 2:30 left.Tenorio scored on a reverse lay-up and then Durham answered with two free throws. But Brownlee countered with two free throws of his own as Ginebra kept an 88-87 lead with 33 ticks to go. Stanley Pringle had a split free throw in the last 23.3 seconds for Ginebra’s 89-87 lead before Aguilar’s crucial block.The loss spoiled Durham’s triple-double of 25 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists, and Newsome’s 24 points. Raymond Almazan also had 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Bolts.Scores:Ginebra 91 - Brownlee 38, Aguilar 16, Tenorio 14, Pringle 10, Slaughter 8, Thompson 2, Chan 2.Meralco 87 - Durham 25, Newsome 24, Almazan 20, Amer 9, Caram 4, Quinto 3, Hodge 0, Faundo 0, Pinto 0.Quarterscores: 19-19, 41-37, 71-68, 91-87.
