Manila, Philippines – Barangay Ginebra continued their strong start to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, dominating Phoenix Fuel Masters with a decisive 94-72 victory on Friday night.
The Gin Kings, known for their defensive prowess, clamped down on Phoenix in the final period, holding them to a meager seven points. This defensive masterclass, coupled with efficient offense, propelled Ginebra to their second consecutive win.
Head coach Tim Cone emphasized the team's defensive philosophy: "That's basically our philosophy: We're a defensive team first. So we'll tolerate offensive mistakes. But in defense? More effort and knowledge. So our expectations are always higher defensively than we are offensively."
RJ Abarrientos led the way for Ginebra with 12 points, five rebounds, and six assists, earning Player of the Game honors. Scottie Thompson chipped in 17 points, while Japeth Aguilar and Troy Rosario added 16 and 14 points, respectively.
Phoenix, despite a strong performance from import Donovan Smith (20 points, 15 rebounds), couldn't overcome Ginebra's defensive intensity. Kenneth Tuffin and Jason Perkins contributed 15 and 10 points, respectively, but it wasn't enough to prevent their team's fourth straight loss.
Ginebra will look to extend their winning streak against Hong Kong Eastern on Sunday, while Phoenix aims to break their losing streak against NorthPort on Tuesday.
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