Ginebra seals crucial win against Meralco, 110-96
Barangay Ginebra triumphed over rival Meralco with a 110-96 victory, boosting their chances for a playoff spot in the 2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday, Dec. 22.
Christian Standhardinger, Jamie Malonzo, and import Tony Bishop played crucial roles in securing the win, ending a two-game losing streak and improving Ginebra’s standing to 5-3. The team now shares the fourth spot with San Miguel Beermen, putting themselves in contention for the twice-to-beat advantage in the playoffs. The win also served as ideal preparation for Ginebra’s upcoming Governors’ Cup Finals rematch with TNT on Christmas Day.
Ahanmisi led the charge for the Kings with 25 points, while Thompson contributed 21 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Thompson also effectively shut down Bolts import Zach Lofton, allowing him to score only 23 points in his first game back from injury.
Standhardinger fell just three assists short of a triple-double, posting 21 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists, while Bishop recorded a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds in his first game against his former team.
Despite Meralco’s efforts to narrow the gap, Ginebra managed to maintain a significant lead until the final buzzer. Cliff Hodge and Aaron Black led Meralco’s offense with 17 and 14 points, respectively, but it wasn’t enough to extend their four-game winning streak.
The game started off close, but Ginebra’s defensive effort in the second half allowed them to pull away and secure the much-needed win.
