Game Today
(MoA Arena)
8 p.m. — B-Meg vs Talk ‘N Text
Games Tomorrow (Araneta)
3:30 p.m. — Rain or Shine vs Meralco
6:15 p.m. — Petron vs Barangay Ginebra
 
Barangay Ginebra exuded with defensive resolve throughout and ran a spent Meralco to the ground in an 89-76 triumph last night at the start of the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup semifinals at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The Gin Kings limited the Bolts, who were seeing action for the second straight game day, to only 10 points in the first quarter and 20 each in the second and third periods that set the tempo for that easy win as the crowd favorites improved their carry-over record to five wins and five losses.
The sixth-placed Bolts dropped to a 4-6 slate.
Big man Kerby Raymundo finally had a breakout game with the Gin Kings ever since joining the ballclub this season and finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds. He waxed hot in a big third quarter run that had the Gin Kings posting their biggest lead of 71-47.
“Kerby is getting comfortable with what we’re doing. It took some time for him to get comfortable. It’s still a work in progress, Kerby is willing to learn,” said Ginebra coach Bethune Tanquincen.
Import Cedric Bozeman added 13 points while rookie Allen Maliksi and Mark Caguioa had 12 and 10 points, respectively, as the Gin Kings broke off to a huge start, posting a 25-10 advantage after the first 12 minutes of the game.
“Nag-click yung defense namin. We were able to limit yung easy points nila and clamp down on their scorers. It was a concerted effort to limit their scorers,” noted Tanquincen.
The Bolts, who had to go through the complications of a two-game playoff for the last semis seat before finally qualifying with a 94-86 triumph over Powerade only two nights ago, had import Mario West leading them with 22 points.
Asi Taulava had another steady game with 17 points with Sol Mercado and Mac Cardona  combining for 24 points. But the rigors of having had to go through the long route to the semis told heavily on the Bolts’ consistency in offense.
“The (five-day) rest was a factor for sure, compared to what they had to go through. But for sure, from here, it wouldn’t be much of a factor already,” the Gins coach acknowledged.
And for now, Tanquincen already has his sights set on the Gin Kings’ match tomorrow against sister-team Petron Blaze, another late-surging team which was still playing league-leader Rain or Shine as of press time.
“It’s tough playing Petron. They’re very talented and they are now complete. And the import they have now came highly recommended by coach Rajko Toroman (Petron consultant). It’s going to be a tough match-up,” said Tanquincen, referring to Marcus Fison who replaced Eddie Basden going into the semis.
“Our main concern was to get a good start this semifinals. Lahat dikit, it is crucial we have to get as many wins as we could,” Tanquincen noted.
Tournament format gives a team which wins four of its five outings in the semis an automatic playoff shot at the Finals, regardless of its win-loss record at the end of the semis.