JUST when everybody thought that they had finally found their rhythm after chalking up a breakthrough win the last time out, the Barangay Ginebra Kings once again groped for form and lost badly to sister-team San Miguel Beermen, 82-100, last night in the 41st PBA Philippine Cup at the Philsports Arena.
Coming off a narrow 93-92 win versus the Alaska Aces, Ginebra was no match for the vaunted firepower of San Miguel, which used a balanced attack to notch its fourth win in five games.
The win gave the Beermen the solo lead in the team standings as they pulled a half-game ahead over Alaska, Rain or Shine and GlobalPort, which also sport 3-1 (win-loss) records.
Cebuano big men June Mar Fajardo and Greg Slaughter put up big numbers but the former got ample support from other Beermen.
Fajardo finished with 22 points and rebounds, while Slaughter led Ginebra with 21 markers and 11 boards.
Arwind Santos topscored the Beermen with 24 points, Ronald Tubid fired 15 points, Marcio Lassiter scored 13 and Chris Ross had 10.
Japeth Aguilar also finished with 21 markers for the Kings.
Chris Ellis was the other King in twin digits with 11.
In the other game, the Barako Bull Energy kept the Meralco Bolts winless via a tight 108-106 decision.
Shooting 14-for-21 from the field, Gary David exploded for 40 points but the Bolts further dropped to the bottom of the standings with their fourth defeat in as many games.
Josh Urbiztondo fired 24 points and had three steals to lead the Energy’s second win against the same number of defeats.
RR Garcia contributed 18 markers for the Energy, while Willy Wilson donated 17 points.