Scottie Thompson and Barangay Ginebra took it personal and handed import George King his first loss when they met anew in the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup on Tuesday, Sept. 10.
Scottie Thompson made sure royal revenge was served for Blackwater and its King.
Thompson was back in his usual do-it-all outing to help Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel exact revenge over George King and the rest of the Bossing, 112-98, in the PBA Governors' Cup on Tuesday, Sept. 10.
The former Most Valuable Player came through with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists as the Gin Kings atoned for their first-round loss against the Bossing, who leaned on then debuting replacement import George King to secure the stunner.
[WATCH: Scottie Thompson produces triple-double game for Ginebra's vengeful win over Blackwater | PBA Highlights]
Brgy. Ginebra thus chalked up back-to-back wins to secure solo second in Group B at 4-2. Blackwater, meanwhile, remained at fifth at 3-4.
Thompson reached his first triple-double of the season as he collared an offensive rebound following an Aljon Mariano miss with under 18 seconds left to play. This was also his ninth career triple-double.
[WATCH: Ginebra finds answer in Scottie Thompson to get back at Blackwater | PBA Highlights]
The Gin Kings saw their early 17-point lead dwindle to just a single possession game at 76-74 after Christian David completed a three-point play with 5:38 seconds remaining in the third frame.
Still leading at 85-82, the crowd-favorite responded with an 11-2 tear with the trio of Thompson, Maverick Ahanmisi and Isaac Go conniving beyond the arc to make it a 12-point advantage, 96-84, in the early goings of the final frame.
Justin Brownlee then connected on a top-of-the key triple midway through the fourth to stretch Ginebra's lead to 103-86. He then drilled in a pair of freebies for the Gin Kings' biggest lead at 19 points, 105-86, with 5:01 left.
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From that point on, it was a tough hill to climb for Blackwater, which saw their three-game winning streak snap in the end.
King, who delivered a double-double for the Bossing to score its breakthrough over Ginebra last Aug. 30 and sustained his stellar play to keep the squad in the win column since, suffered his first defeat.
Brownlee added 20 markers, rookie RJ Abarrientos chipped in 15 points while Stephen Holt and Japeth Aguilar both had 14.
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"I think we needed to kind of have an attitude change and come out with a higher level of intensity because they've proven to be a strong team," said Gin Kings coach Tim Cone.
And they did.
Brgy. Ginebra connected more triples than Blackwater, 14-7. It also dished out 31 assists on 42 field goals made and led by as many as 19 points en route to the convincing win.
The Scores:
Barangay Ginebra 112 — Thompson 21, Brownlee 20, Abarrientos 15, Holt 14, J. Aguilar 14, Ahanmisi 8, Go 7, Tenorio 6, Mariano 4, Pinto 3, R. Aguilar 0.
Blackwater 98 — King 21, Rosario 18, Barefield 15, David 13, Chua 12, Ilagan 6, Escoto 5, Kwekuteye 3, Mitchell 3, Suerte 2, Corteza 0, Montalbo 0, Ponferrada 0.
Quarterscores: 36-22, 67-58, 91-82, 112-98