Gin Kings grab top spot with close win over the Beermen

Brgy. Ginebra picked up its second straight victory via 75-72 squeaker over previously unbeaten San Miguel in the elimination round of PBA Season 47 Philippine Cup, Friday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Gin Kings improved to a league-leading record of 4-1 while the Beermen fell to their first loss in 4 starts.

Christian Standhardinger starred against his former team by scattering a game-high 20 points including the go-ahead basket with 1:31 ticks left on the game clock. The 32-year old Fil-German shot 10-of-17 from the field and hauled down 10 boards in addition to 5 assists and 4 steals in 37 minutes of action.

“These guys won two big games down the stretch and came back from a 19-point game just two nights ago, and then turned around to beat a San Miguel Beer team down the stretch in a tight ball game all the way,” said Brgy. Ginebra head coach Tim Cone during the post-game press conference.

“So that really says a lot about our team, but we’re only halfway through the conference. We got a lot of work left to do,” he added.

Scottie Thompson added 15 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals including a game-saving swipe on CJ Perez which preserved the crowd darlings’ 2-point edge with just 7 seconds remaining.

Japeth Aguilar also had 15 markers plus a team-high 14 rebounds, an assist and 2 rejections. LA Tenorio and Arvin Tolentino chipped in 11 and 9 points, respectively.

Simon Enciso paced the Beermen with 18 points with 12 coming from beyond the arc. Perez finished with 17 points while Jericho Cruz had 12 and Marcio Lassiter 10. June Mar Fajardo collared 17 boards but was held to just 6 points on 3-of-7 shooting.

The Beermen will troop back to the hardcourt on Sunday, June 26 to take on the Converge FiberXers at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

The scores:

Brgy. Ginebra 75 – Standhardinger 20, J.Aguilar 15, Thompson 15, Tenorio 11, Tolentino 9, Caperal 3, Mariano 2, David 0, Pinto 0, Chan 0, Salado 0.

San Miguel 72 – Enciso 18, Perez 17, Cruz 12, Lassiter 10, Fajardo 6, Tautuaa 5, Brondial 2, Herndon 2, Pessumal 0.

Quarterscores: 19-16, 33-33, 58-50, 75-72.

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