The Barangay Ginebra Kings played an almost perfect game on Sunday, demolishing GlobalPort Batang Pier, 110-90, in the opening day of the 38th season of the PBA at the Araneta Coliseum.
Tenorio only had two points, but almost had a double-double with 10 assists and nine rebounds. The former Alaska Ace looked comfortable orchestrating the offense for the Gin Kings, while the team's younger guns Keith Jensen and Chris Ellis chipped in 13 and 12, respectively, to provide ample support for Mark Caguioa and Rico Maierhofer who combined for 32 big points.
The new-look team sporting old school jerseys played like a well-oiled machine in dispatching the rookie franchise. Six of the Kings scored in double digits and all of the 12 players fielded in managed to score in the game.
Early on, Batang Pier got a basket off a fastbreak layup from Rudy Lingganay, but Ginebra quickly unleashed a 10-2 run bannered by LA Tenorio’s quarterbacking and inside incursions from Billy Mamaril and Allein Maliksi.
Lingganay kept his Global Port Batang Pier team in the game as he scored three more baskets, including two three point shots, to score their first 12 points. After the former UE Red Warrior was subbed out, it was Willie Miller who carried the scoring for Global Port, sinking seven straight points late in the first quarter.
Ginebra got the final say of the quarter when rookie Keith Jensen scored his first three point shot of his PBA career, which extended their lead to 6, 26-20. Ginebra pulled away further in the second quarter. A Chris Ellis fastbreak layup was followed by a three from Jayjay Helterbrand and a jumper from Mamaril to extend their lead to 18, 46-28. The Kings increased their lead to 21 after Ellis and Willie Wilson combined for three points after a Jondan Salvador flagrant foul, but a run by Global Port featuring two threes from Josh Vanlandingham and rookie AJ Mandani had had the new franchise down by only 16 at the half, 55-39.
Tenorio opened up the third quarter by dishing off three assists to Mamaril, Jensen, and Maierhofer. Caguioa, the reigning PBA Most Valuable Player, also made his presence felt in the third quarter when he scored three straight baskets and extending their lead to 24, 71 to 47. Willie Miller struggled to keep Batang Pier afloat with 26 markers, as Gary David only contributed his first points late in the fourth period.
Batang Pier went on spree early in the fourth, going on a 19-8 run capped by back to back drives by rookie AJ Mandani to cut the lead to 11, 94-83, with 5:44 remaining. GlobalPort continued to threaten as David cut the deficit to nine after a dagger three, but Maierhofer and Caguioa combined for 14 of Ginebra's 16-4 run to stave off GlobalPort in the end game.
After the final buzzer, Ginebra head coach Siot Tanquincen had nothing but good things to say about their prized recruit: “(Tenorio) brings a lot of intangibles in the game. He caused two or three turnovers that swung the momentum back on our side in the fourth quarter. He took control of the game and he made plays.” Ginebra’s big win came after an exciting opening ceremony that wowed the almost 19,000 paying patrons. The ceremony included a tribute to the Smart-Gilas team that recently won the Jones Cup and a promise from PBA Commissioner Chito Salud that the growth of Asia’s first professional basketball league has just begun.
GINEBRA 110 - Caguioa 18, Maierhofer 14, Mamaril 14, Jensen 13, Ellis 12, Hatfield 11, Raymundo 8, Maliksi 7, Helterbrand 5, Cortez 4, Tenorio 2, Wilson 2.
GLOBAL PORT 90 - Miller 26, Lingganay 14, Mandani 13, David 9, Vanlandingham 7, Salvador 7, Al-Hussaini 4, Raymundo 2, Manuel 2, Deutchman 2, Guevarra 2, Yee 2, Adducul 0, Cruz 0.
Quarters: 26-20, 55-39, 86-64, 110-90
WATCH FULL GAME REPLAY: GINEBRA VS GLOBAL PORT <SEPT 30, 2012>
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