by Jonas Terrado
Games Wednesday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4:30 p.m. — Phoenix Pulse vs NorthPort
7 p.m. — Magnolia vs San Miguel
Stanley Pringle made a good account in his debut as defending champion Barangay Ginebra San Miguel downed NLEX, 100-85, amid humid conditions in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Pringle, acquired in a four-player trade from NorthPort last Tuesday, finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals to help the Kings improve to 4-3 for fifth place.
Resident import Justin Brownlee fired 37 points while adding eight rebounds, seven assists and five steals while meshing well with Pringle, much to the delight of a predominantly Ginebra crowd that filled the venue.
Pringle’s Ginebra debut, however, was marred by slippery court conditions due to the extreme heat which even left the league to ponder the possibly of stopping the game.
But the game pushed through without any hitches, though janitors were forced to do their job whenever the players are on the other side of the court.
Poy Erram finished with 20 points and 17 rebounds but the Road Warriors dropped to a league-worst 1-7 record.
Scores:
Ginebra 100 – Brownlee 37, Pringle 16, Tenorio 11, Slaughter 10, Aguilar 8, Caguioa 4, Caperal 4, Mariano 4, Thompson 3; Devance 3, R. Aguilar 0, Sargent 0, Teodoro 0.
NLEX 85 – Erram 20, Mitchell 17, Ighalo 13, Cruz 12, Quinahan 6, Galanza 6, Taulava 3, Soyud 3, Baguio 2, Tiongson 2, Lao 1, Rios 0, Paniamogan 0, Varilla 0.
Quarterscores: 27-17, 50-42, 80-63, 100-85.
