Brgy. Ginebra Gin Kings vs B-Meg Llamados

MANILA, Philippines – B-Meg sprang back from a loss to Meralco Wednesday, stopping Barangay Ginebra, 82-70, to gain an outright playoff shot at a finals passage in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.

The Llamados engaged the Kings in a defensive battle in the first half before working on key runs in the last two quarters for the crucial victory, assuring the team of a tie for second place at the close of the semifinal round Wednesday.

Coach Tim Cone and his chargers go for an automatic finals entry versus the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in their closing game in the semis.

Ginebra slid down to third place behind Rain or Shine (9-3) and B-Meg (9-4) with an 8-5 card. The Kings, however, remained in the running for the finals under the “four-or-five” incentive rule.

Coach Siot Tanquingcen and his Gin Kings gain a playoff for the second finals berth if they beat the Talk n Text Tropang Texters Wednesday.

“The biggest key was we came out with a defensive mindset. We came in with a renewed commitment to play defense and we made a statement right in the first quarter,” said Cone.

“We limited their output (to 16 points in the first quarter and nine in the second period) and that gave us good feeling. It carried through to the end,” Cone added.

The Llamados limited Mark Caguioa to three points, and that best typifying the good defensive effort B-Meg put in the game. The Ginebra main man averaged 21.3 points before this contest.

Offensively, Marc Pingris stood out for the Llamados by coming through with a personal season high of 24 points. It was actually his highest production in the last three seasons.

James Yap went scoreless in the first half before finding some rhythm, firing 11 points in the second half.

The scores:

B-MEG 82 – Pingris 24, Blakely 17, Yap 11, Reavis 11, Urbiztondo 9, Simon 4, De Ocampo 4, Villanueva 2, Barroca 0.

GINEBRA 70 – Bozeman 22, Helterbrand 16, Raymundo 14, Mamaril 4, Cortez 4, Caguioa 3, Maierhofer 2, W. Wilson 2, Hatfield 2, Villanueva 1, Maliksi 0, Ababou 0, Canaleta 0, Menk 0.

Quarters: 19-16, 32-25, 62-51, 82-70