Caguioa-Tenorio tandem shines for Ginebra

Reigning Most Valuable Player Mark Caguioa seems to be playing beautiful music with newly-acquired playmaker La Tenorio.

The dreaded Ginebra backcourt proved that anew against Rain or Shine Sunday night, leading the Gin Kings to a 98-94 victory and a hold of the solo lead in the 38th PBA Philippine Cup at the packed Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The 6-foot-1 Caguioa tallied 22 points while Tenorio, obtained in that megatrade in the off-season, scattered 20 markers, with both scoring 14 of the Gin Kings’ last 16 points to hold off the stubborn Elasto-Painters.

“LA is a big help. He makes it easier for me and the rest of our teammates. He really opens up the court and that’s what I like about him,” stated Caguioa, who fired four triples and hauled down eight boards.

Forward Rico Maierhofer and veteran Kerby Raymundo tallied 12 apiece to provide ample support for Caguioa and Tenorio in the payoff period.

Although the win proved a stark contrast from their resounding 110-90 victory over newcomer GlobalPort in the opener last Sept. 30, Ginebra coach Siot Tangquincen will take it, saying: We didn’t play well but we’re blessed to come up with a win.

“It’s a very good win. It’s interesting how we fare against Rain or Shine. They’re one of the tough teams and they’re very fluid na.”

Sweet-shooting Jeff Chan paced all scorers with 25 points, 12 coming in the payoff period, but his potentially-tying triple in the crunch went way off the mark as the E-Painters, fresh from a clinical 102-86 win over title-favorite Petron Blaze last Wednesday, dropped to 1-1.

After a Jireh Ibanes acrobatic lay-up gave RoS a 90-87 lead, Caguioa drained a triple, followed by a Maierhofer putback before Tenorio split his charities, putting Ginebra ahead 93-90 with 1:43 left.

Ibanes scooped in another lay-up then Norwood, rising over the smaller Caguioa, turned an offensive rebound into a twinner for a shaky 94-93 Ros lead.

Taking advantage of his quickness, Tenorio sank a jumper off RoS center JR Quinahan. Norwood missed in the ensuing play and got whistled for a loose ball against Tenorio, who calmly sank his free throws that gave them a 97-94 cushion with 16.5 ticks to play.

Needing a trey to tie, Chan had a good look but his three-point attempt went off to the left, forcing Norwood to give another pre-emptive foul on Caguioa, who pegged the final count by making the front-end of his two shots.

Earlier, Air21 essayed a morale-booting 88-81 victory over newcomer GlobalPort, giving coach Franz Pumaren his first win in the Philippine Cup.

Former NCAA MVP John Wilson came off the bench and fired 17 points while forwards Mark Isip and Nino Canaleta collected 12 apiece as the Express bounced back from an 87-90 defeat inflicted by Barako Bull last Wednesday while snapping their 14-game losing streak in the tourney.

“We made a lot of mental lapses till the very end. It’s a sign that we’re still in the stage that everybody is still adjusting to each other,” stated Pumaren, who went 0-14 in last season’s Philippine Cup when the team was still known as Shopinas.com. “We’re lucky Global is still in a getting-to-know stage just like our team. They’re still groping for form.”

Willie Miller, a two-time league MVP, churned in 22 points while Gary David scattered 17, but those failed to stop the Batang Pier from absorbing their second straight defeat.

Intriguingly, center Rabeh Al-Hussaini, who got into a heated exchange with David in the midst of a loss against the Gin Kings, was not fielded by coach Glenn Capacio.

A Wynne Arboleda lay-up gave the Express a 77-65 cushion but the Batang Pier clawed back behind Miller and David, moving within 75-79 with 69 ticks to play. But Air21 flashed enough poise to hold on, with Noy Baclao, Wilson and Canaleta making the clutch baskets.

The scores:

First Game

AIR 21 88 – Wilson 17, Isip 12, Canaleta 12, Arboleda 9, Custodio 8, Sena 7, Omolon 6, Atkins 5, Taha 4, Baclao 4, Ritualo 4.

GLOBALPORT 81 – Miller 22, David 17, Deutchman 14, Manuel 9, Salvador 8, Lingganay 5, Mandani 2, Vanlandingham 2, Adducul 2, Raymundo 0, Guevarra 0.
Quarters: 24-24, 41-39, 65-60, 88-81

Second Game

BRGY. GINEBRA 98 – Caguioa 22, Tenorio 20, Maierhofer 12, Raymundo 12, Maliksi 9, Wilson 6, Mamaril 6, Cortez 5, Ellis 2, Jensen 2, Helterbrand 2, Hatfield 0.

RAIN OR SHINE 94 – Chan 25, Matias 14, Norwood 11, Rodriguez 10, Cruz 7, Belga 7, Tang 6, Ibanes 6, Quinahan 5, Arana 3.
Quarters: 30-30, 46-49, 69-67, 98-94
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