ANTIPOLO – Barangay Ginebra blew away Blackwater, 86-63, to celebrate the return of high-flyer Jamie Malonzo on Sunday in the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center.
The Gin Kings bounced back from a surprising defeat to NorthPort last Wednesday to improve to 6-3, sharing the same record as Converge and Eastern, and with TNT (4-2) in terms of winning percentage for joint third place.
Incidentally, Ginebra battles TNT on Friday at the Philsports Arena in a rematch of the Governors’ Cup Finals.
Malonzo made his season debut for Ginebra over nince months since suffering a calf injury, finishing with eight points on 2-for-7 shooting from the field and 4-for-5 from the free throw line in 10 minutes and 56 seconds of action.
The Gin Kings didn't need much from Malonzo as they went on a 27-13 third quarter to pull away from Blackwater for good, dealing the Bossing their seventh loss in eight games.
Ginebra held Blackwater to a conference-low 63 points after that 119-116 loss to NorthPort last Wednesday.
“We weren’t shooting the ball well but we came with our defensive chops tonight,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone. “That’s something we did not show up with NorthPort. You’ve got to give NorthPort a lot of credit. They shot the ball very well, but they were also getting shots that we shouldn’t have given them.”
Justin Brownlee finished with 18 points and seven rebounds even after an injury scare in the first quarter where he sustained a bruised calf.
RJ Abarrientos finished with 15 points including 11 in the first half. He provided the spark for the Gin Kings by hitting two threes late in the second quarter.
“We didn’t shoot the ball well. I think we missed like 0-for-16 or 0-for-17 from the three-point line until RJ sparked us with two three-pointers towards the end of the second quarter,” said Cone.
George King had 27 points while Jaydee Tungcab had 10 points for Blackwater, which missed the services once again of Sedrick Barefield and RK Ilagan.
The scores:
Barangay Ginebra 86 – Brownlee 18, Abarrientos 15, J. Aguilar 10, Ahanmisi 9, Malonzo 8, Rosario 8, Holt 8, Thompson 5, Pessumal 5, Cu 0, Pinto 0, Mariano 0, Adamos 0.
Blackwater 63 – King 27, Tungcab 10, Suerte 9, David 5, Kwekuteye 4, Ayonayon 3, Ponferada 3, Guinto 2, Escoto 0, Jopia 0, Chua 0, Montalbo 0, Corteza 0, Hill 0, Casio 0.
Quarters: 19-13; 39-32; 66-45; 86-63.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
