Ginebra blasts Barako Bull to stay alive in playoff chase

MANILA, Philippines – Shots from downtown were falling. The other team could not hit a basket to save its life. In unison, thousands of fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum chanted as loud as their voices would permit: “Ginebra, Ginebra.”

And they had every reason to celebrate. Their team remains in the hunt for a playoff seed.

Thanks to a masterful performance in the fourth quarter where they exploded for 39 points on offense and locked down on the other end, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel took down the Barako Bull Energy, 120-98, on Wednesday, June 17.

Emman Monfort, who hadn’t played in Ginebra’s last 3 games, was named best player of the game after scoring 12 points, grabbing 8 rebounds and dishing 4 assists.

The win improved Ginebra’s record in the Governors’ Cup to 4-6, putting them in a tie with Talk ’N Text at ninth place in the league standings and half a game behind eighth-placed KIA (4-5). 

Only the top 8 teams will advance to the quarterfinals.

– Rappler.com