Tim Cone, the league’s winningest coach, will have to wait a little longer before tasting his first win with his new team after the Barangay Ginebra Kings squandered a 21-point lead in a disheartening 79-82 loss to the Barako Bull Energy last night in the 41st PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Kings stumbled to their second straight defeat, keeping Cone winless since moving from the Star Hotshots to the crowd-favorite Ginebra.
Barako Bull got its first win as it bounced back from a 73-85 defeat against the NLEX Road Warriors.
The Kings started the tournament with a loss to Cone’s former team, 78-86, but they appeared well on their way of barging into the win column when they erected a huge 29-9 lead after 12 minutes of play.
Ginebra led by as much as 21 points, 35-14, in the second before Barako Bull started to claw back.
The Energy cut the deficit to just seven, 36-43, at the half before coming up with a major run in the third to force a 57-all stand-off heading into the fourth.
JC Intal was the top scorer for the Energy with 22 points but it was RR Garcia who delivered the back-breaking points when he unloaded 10 of his 16 points in the final frame.
Garcia sank a three-pointer that put the Energy on top, 74-73, with 2:51 left then picked the pocket of Greg Slaughter to complete a fastbreak layup while being fouled.
After completing the three-point play, Garcia capped his heroics by hitting a layup, giving the Energy a seven-point lead, 80-73, inside the two-minute zone.
Ginebra’s Cebuano center Greg Slaughter put in another solid game with 27 points and 26 rebounds.
Also making it to the win column was the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters, who survived the Mahindra Enforcers, 101-97.
Jayson Castro scattered 28 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field as Talk ‘N Text recovered from a blowout loss to the Alaska Aces last week.
Mo Tautuaa and Troy Rosario, the top two picks in the Rookie Daft, came up with fine showings after struggling mightily in their 98-114 loss to the Aces.
Tautuaa wound up with 12 points and six rebounds, Rosario submitted 12 markers and five boards.
The two rookies filled the void vacated by Ranidel de Ocampo, who will be out for at least four weeks due to a herniated disc.
LA Revilla scored 21 points, while rookie Bradwyn Guinto had 17 markers and 13 rebounds for Mahindra, which dropped to 0-2.
THE SCORES
FIRST GAME
BARAKO BULL (82)- Intal 22, Garcia 16, Baracael 8, Lanete 8, Monfort 7, Caperal 6, Pennisi 6, Wilson 6, Miranda 2, Cruz 1, Sorongon 0, Urbiztondo 0.
GINEBRA 79 – Slaughter 27, Tenorio 12, Ellis 9, Mercado 9, Aguilar 6, Caguioa 6, Devance 6, Marcelo 2, Salva 2, Brondial 0, Helterbrand 0, Thompson 0.QUARTERSCORES: 9-29, 36-43, 57-57, 82-79.
SECOND GAME
TALK ‘N TEXT (101)- Castro 28, Rosario 12, Tautuaa 12, Fonacier 11, J. Reyes 10, R. Reyes 10, Carey 6, Rosser 6, Miranda 3, Seigle 3, Aban 0.
MAHINDRA (97)- Revilla 21, Guinto 17, Ramos 13, Jaime 12, Hubalde 8, Pinto 8, Canaleta 7, Bagatsing 5, Yee 4, Webb 2, Alvarez 0, Laure 0.QUARTERSCORES: 24-19, 47-53, 73-76, 101-97.