(PBA images)
DESPITE a two-week break, Barangay Ginebra showed no signs of rust as they resumed action in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals with a commanding victory over NorthPort Batang Pier.
Justin Brownlee and his Ginebra squad wasted no time in asserting their dominance, pulling away in the third quarter to secure a 115-93 win in Game 1 of their best-of-seven series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday night.
A blistering run in the third quarter allowed Ginebra to create significant separation, giving their starters a chance to rest while the reserves handled mop-up duties. The blowout was unexpected, considering NorthPort entered the playoffs as the top seed.
Despite the convincing win, Ginebra head coach Tim Cone remained grounded, emphasizing that it’s just one victory in a long series.
The triumph was particularly impressive given Ginebra’s limited preparation time. Cone, along with Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Japeth Aguilar, Troy Rosario, and LA Tenorio, had been fulfilling national team duties with Gilas Pilipinas. However, fatigue was nowhere in sight as the team executed flawlessly.
(PBA images)
Rosario, Brownlee, Malonzo, Thompson, and Aguilar played key roles in a dominant 32-14 surge in the third quarter, pushing Ginebra’s lead to 88-65 heading into the final frame.
NorthPort’s Kadeem Jack put up a strong fight with a 33-point performance, but it wasn’t enough as the Kings held a 56-51 lead at halftime before breaking the game wide open.
Rosario, a national team reserve, delivered nine points in the third quarter and finished with 16 points and eight rebounds. Brownlee led Ginebra with 19 points, while RJ Abarrientos contributed 15.
Defensively, Ginebra tightened up in the second half, shutting down NorthPort’s perimeter game and limiting top scorer Arvin Tolentino to just eight points.
Aside from Jack’s 33, only two other NorthPort players reached double figures—Joshua Munzon with 10 points and Tolentino with eight.
(PBA image)
Box scores:
Ginebra 115 – Brownlee 19, Rosario 16, Abarrientos 15, Malonzo 14, J. Aguilar 11, Cu 9, Holt 7, Mariano 7, Thompson 6, Ahanmisi 5, R. Aguilar 3, Pessumal 2, Pinto 1, Adamos 0.
NorthPort 93 – Jack 33, Munzon 10, Tolentino 8, Navarro 8, Nelle 7, Onwubere 7, Taha 6, Bulanadi 4, Yu 3, Cuntapay 3, Flores 2, Miranda 2.
Quarter Scores: 31-22, 56-51, 88-65, 115-93.