source: abs-cbnNEWS.com
MANILA, Philippines – Barangay Ginebra eked out a thrilling 97-96 victory over a younger Smart-Gilas Pilipinas team in Game 1 of their Best-of-5 semifinal duel in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Friday.
Ginebra's import Nate Brumfield muscled his way into the National squad’s defense to register a total of 31 points and help the Gin Kings secure a 1-0 lead in their semifinal showdown.
Mark Caguioa added 16 points aside from grabbing 9 rebounds.
“[We played] a little bit physical… but they played really hard,” Caguioa said in the post game interview.
It was a neck-and-neck game between the two squads, who were tied for most part of the game.
Caguioa was convinced that they have matched the Nationals’ intensity. In the end, they forced the younger Gilas team to give out.
“Mahirap silang bantayan with that fluid game they played, you gotta guard them all the way to 48 minutes,” he said.
Compared to Ginebra, Gilas was actually well rested after enjoying at a week’s down time following their automatic qualification to the semifinals.
The Gin Kings, on the other hand, had to go through a tough quarterfinals series with Rain or Shine just to make it into the Final 4.
Caguioa is confident they can maintain their momentum for the rest of the semifinal series.
“We're older, were smarter. [Them being younger] doesn't mean they gonna run us out the game. Kaya namin sumabay sa kanila,” he said.
Naturalized player Marcus Douthit finished with 31 points for Gilas while Mac Baracael added 21.
The scores were 94-all following Brumfield’s basket in the last 44.3 seconds of the game.
However, he was called for a foul on Gilas’ Chris Tiu, who sank 1 of his 2 charity shots for a slim 95-94 advantage.
Brumfield made up for his error by fishing a foul off Japeth Aguilar while scoring a hard drive to the basket, 18.3 seconds left.
The Ginebra import then drained his free throw shot to put the Gin Kings ahead, 97-95.
Douthit missed a crucial free throw off an infraction by Rudy Hatfield, and was only able to bring Gilas within 97-96 just 5.1 seconds left.
The Nationals tried buying time by fouling Ginebra's Willie Miller.
But the never-say-die Gin Kings were still able to get hold on the ball up to regulation, despite Miller’s misses on the free throw line.
Ginebra's import Nate Brumfield muscled his way into the National squad’s defense to register a total of 31 points and help the Gin Kings secure a 1-0 lead in their semifinal showdown.
Mark Caguioa added 16 points aside from grabbing 9 rebounds.
“[We played] a little bit physical… but they played really hard,” Caguioa said in the post game interview.
It was a neck-and-neck game between the two squads, who were tied for most part of the game.
Caguioa was convinced that they have matched the Nationals’ intensity. In the end, they forced the younger Gilas team to give out.
“Mahirap silang bantayan with that fluid game they played, you gotta guard them all the way to 48 minutes,” he said.
Compared to Ginebra, Gilas was actually well rested after enjoying at a week’s down time following their automatic qualification to the semifinals.
The Gin Kings, on the other hand, had to go through a tough quarterfinals series with Rain or Shine just to make it into the Final 4.
Caguioa is confident they can maintain their momentum for the rest of the semifinal series.
“We're older, were smarter. [Them being younger] doesn't mean they gonna run us out the game. Kaya namin sumabay sa kanila,” he said.
Naturalized player Marcus Douthit finished with 31 points for Gilas while Mac Baracael added 21.
The scores were 94-all following Brumfield’s basket in the last 44.3 seconds of the game.
However, he was called for a foul on Gilas’ Chris Tiu, who sank 1 of his 2 charity shots for a slim 95-94 advantage.
Brumfield made up for his error by fishing a foul off Japeth Aguilar while scoring a hard drive to the basket, 18.3 seconds left.
The Ginebra import then drained his free throw shot to put the Gin Kings ahead, 97-95.
Douthit missed a crucial free throw off an infraction by Rudy Hatfield, and was only able to bring Gilas within 97-96 just 5.1 seconds left.
The Nationals tried buying time by fouling Ginebra's Willie Miller.
But the never-say-die Gin Kings were still able to get hold on the ball up to regulation, despite Miller’s misses on the free throw line.
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