Ginebra off to hot start, routs Air21
THE Barangay Ginebra Kings got off to a flying start in the 37th PBA Governors’ Cup after routing the Air21 Express, 103-85 last night at the Araneta Coliseum.
Import Cedric Bozeman led the way for the Kings with 29 points, while top local Mark Caguioa marked his return from an eye injury by scoring 15 points.
Caguioa missed the playoffs in the previous conference after he sustained a fractured right orbital socket when it was accidentally hit by B-Meg’s James Yap in their playoff game last March 30.
The injury forced Caguioa to miss Ginebra’s semifinals series against B-Meg, which eventually won the Commissioner’s Cup title at the expense of the Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters.
Ginebra had a balanced attack with Allein Mliksi and Rudy Hatfield scoring in double figures with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Three other Kings scored at least seven points.
Zach Graham fired a game-high 31 points but the lack of local support doomed the Express.
Renren Ritualo and James Sena were the only Air21 local players to finish in twin digits with 13 and 11.
Ginebra was never really threatened in this game, never looking back after closing the opening period with a 23-18 lead.
BOX SCORES
GINEBRA (103)- Bozeman 29, Caguioa 15, Maliksi 13, Hatfield 10, Ababou 9, Cortez 8, Raymundo 7, Wilson W. 6, Wilson J. 3, Labagala 2, Villanueva 1, Maierhofer 0, Canaleta 0.
AIR 21 (85)- Graham 31, Ritualo 13, Sena 11, Isip 6, Omolon 6, Jazul 5, Espiritu 4, Sison 4, Bagatsing 3, Hubalde 2, Menor 0, Faundo 0. QUARTERSCORES: 23-18, 45-39, 71-62, 103-85.
