PASAY--Ginebra did not waver from a poor start and a late injury to import Paul Harris to defeat GlobalPort, 93-81, in their PBA Governors' Cup debut at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday night.
The Gin Kings found themselves in a 6-20 hole by the Batang Pier in the first six minutes of the game but quickly recovered to force a close match later in the game.
However, they suffered another major low as Harris hurt his hand while trying to block Dominique Sutton late in the third quarter of the game with the Batang Pier up, 61-60. The injury was later ruled as a hyperextended right thumb fracture, which could make him miss the rest of the conference.
Ginebra, now all-Filipino, showed grit in the fourth quarter, starting the period with the last 11 points of a 13-3 run to open a 73-64 lead before keeping GlobalPort from cutting the lead to less than five points. Ginebra ended the match with a 6-0 run.
Japeth Aguilar, who quickly suited up for the Gin Kings after his FIBA OQT stint with Gilas and forced to play extended minutes with Harris and Greg Slaughter out, finished with 21 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two blocks off the bench.
Harris, formerly of TNT, actually struggled in his first game for Ginebra, only making 14 points off 6-of-20 shooting with five turnovers, although he had ten rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.
With Slaughter, who had a successful surgery in his right ankle, needing the next two months for full healing, Dave Marcelo got the start, but he only had two points.
Scottie Thompson also struggled in his first start for the Gin Kings this conference, only making a single marker, but he grabbed four rebounds with one assist.
Stanley Pringle fired 26 points for the Batang Pier but only made three points in the fourth quarter.
Box Scores:
Box Scores:
Ginebra 93-Aguilar 21, Harris 14, Mercado 12, Devance 10, Ellis 10, Tenorio 10, Caguioa 6, Helterbrand 3, Cruz 2, Marcelo 2, Mariano 2, Thompson 1
GlobalPort 81-Pringle 26, Sutton 18, Romeo 15, Yeo 8, Isip 5, Taha 4, Kramer 3, Dehesa 2, Banal 0, Paredes 0, Pascual 0
Quarterscores: 25-30, 44-47, 62-61, 93-81
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
GlobalPort 81-Pringle 26, Sutton 18, Romeo 15, Yeo 8, Isip 5, Taha 4, Kramer 3, Dehesa 2, Banal 0, Paredes 0, Pascual 0
Quarterscores: 25-30, 44-47, 62-61, 93-81
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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