Pba: everything we know so far

SEEING an opening for a spot in the Top 4, Meralco amped up the power to get the job done against Ba. Pba has emerged this Friday as one of the stories drawing attention in Philippines.

Key facts

• SEEING an opening for a spot in the Top 4, Meralco amped up the power to get the job done against Ba.
• Behind a game-changing 29-13 bomb in the second period, the Bolts turned their Labor Day rivalry duel in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup into a one-sided affair and chalked up a 112-91 rout Friday at a packed Smart Araneta Coliseum.
• 4 at 6-3 and boosted their shot at a coveted twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
• Their five-game streak snapped, the Gin Kings fell to 7-3 and stayed at third behind NLEX (8-2) and Rain or Shine (8-2).
• This was a team on a winning streak (Ginebra) and they solidified themselves in Top 4 and this now gave us a bigger chance to make Top 4 (too),” said coach Luigi Trillo, whose crew can achieve its goal by taking care of business against Blackwater, Terrafirma and Magnolia in their elims windup.

What we know

Going deeper, Behind a game-changing 29-13 bomb in the second period, the Bolts turned their Labor Day rivalry duel in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup into a one-sided affair and chalked up a 112-91 rout Friday at a packed Smart Araneta Coliseum.

On the substance, 4 at 6-3 and boosted their shot at a coveted twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

Beyond the headlines, their five-game streak snapped, the Gin Kings fell to 7-3 and stayed at third behind NLEX (8-2) and Rain or Shine (8-2).

More precisely, this was a team on a winning streak (Ginebra) and they solidified themselves in Top 4 and this now gave us a bigger chance to make Top 4 (too),” said coach Luigi Trillo, whose crew can achieve its goal by taking care of business against Blackwater, Terrafirma and Magnolia in their elims windup.

“Top 4 (with the win-once edge in the quarterfinals) is really crucial whenever you’re trying to win a championship.

By the numbers

At this stage, You’d want every advantage you can get and Top 4 is definitely an advantage,” offered Chris Newsome, who was named Player of the Game as they rebounded from their back-to-back losses to NLEX (101-104 in overtime) and San Miguel Beer (92-103) and pumped life back into their bid.

On a related note, Marvin Jones produced 18 points with nine rebounds while CJ Cansino matched the Meralco import’s scoring tally to lead the scoring parade.

Going deeper, Newsome posted 12 points, three assists and three steals as Cliff Hodge and Bong Quinto added 11 apiece and Jason Brickman and Chris Banchero joined the fray with 10 each.

On the substance, RJ Abarrientos, with 24, and Justin Brownlee with 24, carried the bulk of Ginebra's offense with no other teammate finishing in double figures. (OL).

The wider context

On a related note, the Bolts leaned on a balanced scoring and their stifling defense to keep out of the Gin Kings’ reach and set the tone for the pivotal bounceback victory that lifted them to No.

The bottom line

• Their five-game streak snapped, the Gin Kings fell to 7-3 and stayed at third behind NLEX (8-2) and Rain or Shine (8-2).
• This was a team on a winning streak (Ginebra) and they solidified themselves in Top 4 and this now gave us a bigger chance to make Top 4 (too),” said coach Luigi Trillo, whose crew can achieve its goal by taking care of business against Blackwater, Terrafirma and Magnolia in their elims windup.
• The Bolts leaned on a balanced scoring and their stifling defense to keep out of the Gin Kings’ reach and set the tone for the pivotal bounceback victory that lifted them to No.
• Searches spiking right now: PBA: Meralco routs Ginebra to boost top 4 push - ABS, Easy win for Meralco on Labor Day as Ginebra falls flat, PBA: Meralco crushes Ginebra, ends losing skid, Phoenix Super LPG stuns TNT in OT on Tyler Tio's last-gasp trey.