George King leads Bossing past Gin Kings
George King emerged as a remarkable addition for Blackwater, proving to be a game-changing import.
Stepping in for Ricky Ledo, King dazzled in his PBA debut, posting an impressive 33 points and 19 rebounds to lead the Bossing to a 95-88 victory over the Brgy. Ginebra in the PBA Governors’ Cup on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The former Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks forward showcased his shooting prowess, knocking down 2-of-6 from the four-point area and hitting 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, emphasizing his stellar double-double performance which propelled Blackwater onto the winning path after starting the season 0-3.
Inspired by their new import, Sedrick Barefield added 13 points, while Christian David and Troy Rosario contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively, as Blackwater overcame a Ginebra squad that now stands at 1-2 in Group B. Rain or Shine leads the group with a perfect 4-0, followed closely by San Miguel Beer and NLEX at 2-1.
Coach Jeff Cariaso and his Blackwater team enjoyed a significant milestone by ending their winless streak against Ginebra, having not beaten them in their last nine encounters.
The Bossing stood their ground against the Gin Kings, overcoming Justin Brownlee’s impressive 37-point effort and Japeth Aguilar’s double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds to finally snap a long-standing skid against Ginebra that dated back to 2019.
Blackwater managed a narrow 46-44 lead at halftime before erupting in the third quarter, building momentum and establishing a commanding 14-point lead at 80-66.
In the closing moments, the Kings made a push, narrowing the gap to three at 88-91, but Barefield delivered a game-clinching four-pointer, sealing the victory for Blackwater at 95-88 with just 31 seconds to play.
The Bossing celebrated their first win of the season following consecutive defeats against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, the NLEX Road Warriors, and the San Miguel Beermen.
For the Kings, this marked their second loss after suffering a setback in their season opener against the Elasto Painters.
The scores:
Blackwater 95 – King 33, Barefield 13, David 11, Rosario 10, Guinto 9, Kwekuteye 8, Ilagan 5, Chua 4, Escoto 2, Casio 0, Mitchell 0, Ponferrada 0.
Brgy. Ginebra 88 – Brownlee 37, Aguilar 17, Abarrientos 10, Ahanmisi 9, Holt 5, Thompson 4, Go 4, Adamos 2, Cu 0, Garcia 0.
Quarterscores: 20-21, 46-44, 77-64, 95-88.
