Cebuano Slaughter helps Ginebra pull off dominant Game 2 rout of San Mig Coffee

Marc Barocca of San Mig Coffee tries to break free from the defense of Ginebra San Miguel’s LA Tenorio.
inquirer photo/august dela cruz

Cebuano big man Greg Slaughter went to work early, setting the tone in what turned out to be an easy outing for the Barangay Ginebra Kings.
Slaughter wrought havoc in the paint to lift the Kings to a series-tying 93-64 crushing of the San Mig Coffee Mixers in Game 2 of thier best-of-seven semifinal series of the 39th PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum, Friday night.
The Kings succumbed to the Coffee Mixers in Game 1, 83-85, on a late basket by Mark Barroca.
There was no endgame drama in this one as the Kings pulled away in the second quarter behind Slaughter, this year’s number one overall pick.
The former University of the Visayas Green Lancer only had 10 points in their Game 1 loss but already nine points in the opening period. Slaughter surpassed his Game 1 output on two free throws in the 5:09 mark of the second period.
Ginebra posted its first double-digit lead, 35-24, with 4:32 left to play in the first half.
The Kings ended the first two quarters of play with a 48-32 lead with Slaughter scoring 15 points on a five-for-six shooting from the field.
Slaughter went on to finish the game with 21 points and 12 rebounds to win the Best Player of the Game accolade.
The Coffee Mixers couldn’t recover from their first half struggle and even allowed the Kings to build several 20-lead in the fourth.
With his team cruising, Slaughter didn’t even see action in the fourth but another big man Billy Mamaril did heavy damage inside as he scored eight of his 10 points in the final period.
Meanwhile, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters try to move a game away from reaching the championship round when they face the Petron Blaze Boosters in Game 3 of their own Final Four series at 3:30 p.m. today at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Elasto Painters surged to a 2-0 series lead following to two contrasting victories.
Rain or Shine built early double-digit leads then fended off Petron’s endgame comeback to win Game 1, 103-95. In Game 2, it was Petron’s turn to taste double-digit leads but Rain or Shine rallied in the fourth period to post a come-from-behind 103-94 victory.
BOX SCORES:
GINEBRA (93)- Slaughter 21, Helterbrand 11, Tenorio 10, Mamaril 10, Reyes 8, Caguioa 8, Aguilar 7, Monfort 5, Ellis 4, Faundo 4, Baracael 3, Forrester 2, Ababou 0.
SAN MIG (64)- Simon 16, Pingris 15, Yap 14, Barroca 7, De Ocampo 3, Acuna 3, Mallari 3, Devance 2, Cawaling 1, Gaco 0, Sangalang 0, Melton 0, Holstein 0, Reavis 0.
QUARTERSCORES: 24-19, 48-32, 69-53, 93-64.