ANTIPOLO – Ginebra high-flyer Jamie Malonzo had a defensive highlight play nullified in Game Two of the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals.
In one of the most talked about plays on Sunday, Malonzo came away with a chasedown block on lay-up by Marcio Lassiter early in the third quarter. But during the next deadball, the referees reviewed the play and decided that Lassiter should be awarded with the two points.
WATCH:
Instead of leading by 15 points, Ginebra's lead was reduced to 13, 63-50, after the referees overturned the call.
The goaltending violation didn’t have a significant effect on the result of the game which Ginebra won handily, 121-103, to grab a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five semifinal series.
But when asked about the play after the postgame interview, Ginebra coach Tim Cone didn't mince any words.
“I thought it was clean,” said Cone.
Immediately after the play, Cone made Malonzo know that he made an excellent play and he thought that it was a clean block.
“Even on the video, it looked clean. It looked like he got there before it hit the backboard. I was shocked,” said Cone.
Malonzo still made a highlight play but on the offensive side with a fastbreak slam, a part of Ginebra’s 10-0 run to increase the lead to 88-68.
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