Kings sizzle in 4th, keep Energy winless

MANILA, Philippines -- Brgy. Ginebra bucked a slow start and rode on a hot shooting to finish strong en route to a 94-75 shellacking of Barako Bull Wednesday night in the 2014 PBA Philippine Cup doubleheader at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Mark Caguioa provided the early spark to keep Brgy. Ginebra afloat while Joseph Yeo led the strong finishing kick in the final quarter as the Kings moved to solo second with their fifth win in six games.

Caguioa led the Kings' uprising in the second quarter after the Energy threatened to pull away early, 23-13.

The veteran guard finished with 15 points, 11 coming in the second canto. He also dished out seven of the Kings' conference-high 32 assists while Yeo had 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc. He hit four triples in a torrid fourth quarter run where Brgy. Ginebra outscored Barako Bull, 30-14, that iced the contest.

“The good thing that happened tonight was that we struggled for two quarters and a half, then we found a way to win,” said Ginebra coach Jeff Cariaso after overcoming a slow start.

Barako Bull began to lose control of the game towards the end of the first half as Caguioa caught fire enabling Brgy. Ginebra to come within five, 42-37.

An alley-oop by Chris Ellis off Josh Urbiztondo assist jolted the Energy as the Kings took a 64-61 lead at the end of third.

It was all Brgy. Ginebra in the fourth as Yeo waxed hot from the outside.

The Kings' frontcourt complemented well their backcourt with Greg Slaughter chipping in 14 points and eight boards while Japeth Aguilar had 10 and eight. Even rookie Rodney Brondial gave them additional lift with seven and eight.

Despite Denok Miranda's 19 points, Barako Bull remained winless in five starts. Not even the arrival of veteran guard Paulo Hubalde's via trade could not help Barako from losing steam down the stretch.