Stunted Kings continue to make progress, drawing closer to a guaranteed Top 4 finish

CHRISTIAN Standhardinger’s import production never slowed, and Barangay Ginebra never lost despite significant roster injuries.

Ginebra triumphs over Phoenix behind Standhardinger’s near triple-double performance

On Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the Gin Kings defeated the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters 109-89 behind a near triple-double performance from standout Christian Standhardinger. He scored 28 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and dished out eight assists.

The starting five of Justin Brownlee, Jamie Malonzo, and Scottie Thompson all had productive games, and Von Pessumal led a big bench mob as Ginebra won its third straight game and moved closer to a playoff berth with a 6-2 record.

Standhardinger and his teammates rode a 31-9 second-quarter run to a commanding 59-30 halftime lead and never looked back, thwarting Phoenix’s best chance to advance to the quarterfinals.

However, despite their record of 4-6, the Fuel Master still have a substantial lead over the Rain or Shine, Terrafirma, and NorthPort teams, all of which have a record of 2-7.

When Ginebra’s starters got some rest and their bench stepped up, coach Tim Cone was overjoyed.

“Despite the fact that our starters have been performing admirably, they still require assistance from the bench. And our reserves, who have been great so far, really delivered tonight “remarked Cone, singling out Pessumal for his 14 point performance (on which he also made four threes).

Despite having their playing time reduced, the team’s regular starters still performed admirably.

Brownlee scored 18 points, grabbed 11 boards, and dished out six assists; Thompson and Malonzo added 16 and 14 points, respectively; and Jeremiah Gray recorded a rare double-double of 11 points and 10 boards.

Standhardinger has been manning the paint in Japeth Aguilar’s absence and showing no signs of slowing down.

“Because Japeth is still missing, we have to make up for it. In the first case, the player is on the rebound, “Standhardinger commented on his increased rebounding output.

“While I’m usually tasked with guarding the foreign player, we’ll need your assistance on the glass this time around. To top it all off, I’m relieved that today went smoothly “Approximately 10 boards per game over the last five games, Standhardinger claims.

The Filipino-German center did not back down against Phoenix’s Du’vaughn Maxwell, who scored 22 points and grabbed seven boards.

Two native Phoenixans, Sean Manganti (15) and Javee Mocon (11), both scored in the double digits.

Final Thought

The Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ recent victory against the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters showcased their resilience and ability to overcome significant roster injuries. With Christian Standhardinger’s outstanding performance and the team’s collective effort, they continue to make progress towards a guaranteed Top 4 finish. Coach Tim Cone’s acknowledgement of the bench’s contribution highlights the importance of a well-rounded team. As they approach the playoffs, the Gin Kings’ determination and grit will be crucial in securing their place in the league’s upper echelons, especially with the ongoing excitement and buzz surrounding the Philippine Cup Betting.

The Scores:

Ginebra 109 – Standhardinger 28, Brownlee 18, Thompson 16, Malonzo 14, Pessumal 14, Gray 11, Pringle 3, Onwubere 3, Pinto 2, Dillinger 0, R.Aguilar 0, David 0, Mariano 0.

Phoenix 89 – Maxwell 22, Manganti 15, Mocon 11, Serrano 9, Tio 9, Garcia 6, Perkins 5, Muyang 4, Camacho 2, Adamos 2, Alejandro 2, Jazul 2, Go 0, Lojera 0, Lalata 0.

Quarters: 28-21, 59-30 , 85-69, 109-89