Ababou inspires Kings’ comeback; Texters, E-Painters also score

MANILA, Philippines – Brgy. Ginebra Kings bucked a slow start before flexing their muscle in the second half to pounce on sister team San Mig Coffee Super Mixers, 86-69, Sunday kicking off the historic opening of the 39^th season of the league at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Over at Cebu, Talk n Text rookie Eloy Poligrates returned to his home province as hero helping the Tropang Texters  eke out an 89-80 victory against sister team Meralco Bolts at the Cebu City Coliseum.

Poligrates, who starred for Southwestern University in the Queen City of the South, pumped in nine of his 13 points in the final frame to the delight of the partisan crowd.

In Davao, Rain or Shine also pulled off an opening day win in an 87-74 rout of Alaska before a sold out crowd at the Southeastern Philippines gym.

Jeff Chan finally had his breakout game for the Painters after his stint with Gilas, rifling in 17 points on 4-of-8 three-point shooting.  

But the biggest story was Dylan Ababou, who is coming off a scary ACL injury, inspiring the Kings’ turnaround in the second half exploding for 16 points all in the last two quarters.

Buried in depths of the loaded wing rotation of the Kings, the former UST Growling Tiger, stepped up when called on to play in the third quarter with Ginebra coach Ato Agustin looking for a spark off the bench.

Ababou and LA Tenorio each scored seven points in the third canto as Ginebra turned an eight-point deficit, 34-42, into a 58-55 lead heading into the final quarter.

Tenorio finished with a double-double with 17 points and 10 assists taking off from where he left off last season.

The Kings’ new-look frontline also dwarfed their San Mig Coffee counterparts.

Japeth Aguilar, rookie Greg Slaughter and new transferee Jay-R Reyes combined for 48 points and 30 rebounds.

The 6-9 Aguilar put up monster numbers of 18 points, eight rebounds and five shot blocks while 7-foot top pick Slaughter was also phenomenal in his debut with 10 points and 13 boards.

Reyes, who came from Meralco via the Kerby Raymundo trade, chipped in 10 markers and nine caroms.

The league lived up to its promise of a simple opening rites but a first in the history as the three games were played in three different venues in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to underscore their theme –  â€œOne PBA, One Philippines”.