MANILA – Barangay Ginebra moved back to a share of first place in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) standings after clobbering NorthPort Batang Pier, 112-100, on Wednesday night at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center.
Coupled by the TNT Tropang Giga's 92-102 loss to the Magnolia Hotshots earlier in the night, the Barangay, who lost two straight games after a 4-0 start, found themselves tied again with the Tropang Giga at the top.
In the second quarter, Ginebra zoomed ahead of NorthPort, which waxed hot in the first period, by outscoring them, 34-19, to take a 57-48 halftime lead.
The Batang Pier still tried to crawl back, drawing to within one, 65-66, midway through the third, but the Barangay slowly pulled away for good from there.
Stanley Pringle led eight Ginebra players in double figures with 17 points, eight rebounds, and three assists.
Aljon Mariano added 15 points, five rebounds, seven assists, and one block off the bench.
Chris Standhardinger and Kevin Ferrer each made 23 points with the former also getting 11 rebounds for a double-double to pace NorthPort, which fell to 1-6.
Meanwhile, Magnolia, much like Ginebra, needed some second-quarter magic to take control of its game against TNT. It pulled away for good with an 18-5 run that stretched its lead to 14, 100-86, with just 1:32 to play in the game.
Paul Lee fired 27 points, four rebounds, four assists, and one steal for the now 3-4 Hotshots, which overtook the NLEX Road Warriors for the eighth and last playoff spot with its second straight victory.
Chris Banchero added 19 points, four rebounds, five assists, and one steal off the bench.
Ray-Ray Parks put up 29 markers, 12 boards, and four dimes, while Jayson Castro added 25 points, one rebound, and four assists for the Tropang Giga, but no other player scored in double digits for the team.
The other afternoon game saw Meralco Bolts bolstering its playoff bid with an 89-85 win over slumping Blackwater Elite. (PNA)
