Jay R. Gotera
Saudi Gazette
MANILA — New acquisition Joseph Yeo starred for the crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra for the first time as the Kings bludgeoned the Purefoods, Star Hotshots, 89-66, in the PBA Philippine Cup at the jampacked Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday night.
Nicknamed “The Ninja” for his deadly sniping and stealthy penetration, Joseph Yeo banged in 17 points, including five three-pointers, to lead the Kings’ manhandling of their perennial tormentors.
The Kings thus grabbed a share of the second spot in the standings with sister team San Miguel Beermen with their fourth win in five games.
It was Ginebra’s first win against Purefoods in their last four encounters. It also marked the first victory by new Ginebra coach Jeff Cariaso against his former mentor, Purefoods’ Tim Cone.
The Hotshots had no answer to the Kings’ imposing frontline of Greg Slaughter, Billy Mamaril, Japeth Aguilar and Mac Baracael.
Slaughter made his fifth straight double-double this season with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Mamaril collected 12 points and 13 rebounds, Baracael had 13 points while Aguilar added 11 markers and eight boards.
The Kings opened up with a 7-0 blast and led by as many as 25 points, 89-64, following a Slaughter dunk and three-pointer from Baracael with 1:22 remaining.
Purefoods suffered its most lopsided loss to Ginebra and in the season as it fell to a 1-3 card. Peter June Simon led the Hotshots with 15 points but converted just 5-of-14 from the field overall.
Marc Pingris added 10 points and nine boards. Returning from a two-game absence, James Yap scored just seven points on a miserable 2-of-14 shooting from the field.
GlobalPort 87, Blackwater 72
The GlobalPort Batang Pier posted back-to-back victories for the first time under coach Pido Jarencio, demolishing the Blackwater Elite, 87-72. The Batang Pier were coming off a win against the other expansion club Kia Sorento last Nov. 4. GlobalPort improved to a 3-2 win-loss card with the win.
Returning from injury, Alex Cabagnot nearly pulled off a rare triple double of nine points, 11rebounds and nine assists.
Ronjay Buenafe and rookies Anthony Semerad and Stanley Pringle also sizzled hot all game long for GlobalPort. Buenafe finished with 17 points, Semerad added 16, while Pringle tossed in 14 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals.
The Batang Pier were merciless on defense as well as offense, holding the Elite to just 38 percent shooting from the field (29-of-76). GlobalPort also dominated the paint with a 51-39 rebounding edge.
Bryan Faundo and Bambam Gamalinda led the Elite with 16 and 15 points, respectively, as Blackwater suffered its fifth straight loss.
Games Tuesday: Kia Sorento vs. Alaska Aces and Meralco Bolts vs. Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters.
