Ginebra outplays SMB in tuneup match

LIPA – Barangay Ginebra overcame a sluggish start, outplaying San Miguel Beer at the finish for an 89-83 decision in a PBA pre-season duel at La Salle Centrum here last night.

Jun Limpot paced the Kings with 19 points but Eric Menk and Bal David stole the thunder in the end by firing crucial treys that decided the outcome of the game.

The contest, the fifth in the series of pre-season games set by the PBA Commissioner’s Office, will be shown Wednesday on NBN-4.

An exhibition game between SMC and the Oblates of St. Joseph served as the curtain-raiser in the San Miguel-Ginebra tiff. Allan Caidic tossed in 35 points while Samboy Lim added 30 as SMC, which also featured PBA chairman Jun Cabalan, Ginebra team manager Ira Maniquis, San Miguel coach Jong Uichico and another PBA great Hector Calma, repulsed the Oblates, 132-119.

From Lipa, the PBA pre-season series goes to Malolos, Bulacan today where reigning All-Filipino champion Coca-Cola and FedEx clash at 4 p.m. at the Centro Escolar University gym. The game will be aired live on NBN-4.

The Kings got off to a lousy start that they needed to survive an early 16-point deficit to win the game.

They surged ahead at 59-57 at the end of the third then figured in a nip-and-tuck battle with the Beermen.