Ginebra escapes New Taipei in Macau preseason clash

MAKATI–Ginebra withstood a valiant fight from New Taipei to win, 91-87, in the  Macau WUS International Basketball Club Challenge on Wednesday night at the Tap Seac Multi-Sports Pavilion.

In the preseason battle between teams using the same moniker, the PBA’s Gin Kings nearly bubbled an early blast but still prevailed against the P.League+’s Kings.

Ginebra opened the game on a 17-2 run as New Taipei felt the absence of the Lin Brothers, who are taking a breather in the United States, early on.

However, the Taiwanese club slowly crawled back and even took the lead at some points later in the game as it was their turn to make the Filipino side realize that Scottie Thompson and Jamie Malonzo are still injured and Justin Brownlee is finishing his duties with IBL Finals-bound Pelita Jaya.

Both  Ginebra and  New Taipei eventually went on a seesaw battle midway through the fourth quarter, but a crucial three from Gin Kings rookie RJ Abarrientos with 2:11 left upped Ginebra’s lead to four, 88-84.

Lin Chin-Pang tried to keep New Taipei in the game with a three-ball with 54.3 seconds left to cut the lead down to one, 88-87, even as Paul Garcia kept the Taiwanese squad in the game after failing to complete a three-point play that could have stretched Ginebra’s lead back to four.

Lin tried to tie the game, but he missed another three-point attempt, and Stephen Holt virtually iced the game for  Ginebra with a split from the free-throw line.

Playing in their first preseason game with their new team, Abarrientos led Ginebra with 20 points, while Holt added 19.

Lin put up 22 markers for  New Taipei.