ANTIPOLO – Ginebra vented its frustrations on a sloppy Rain or Shine, 120-92, to get back on track and, more importantly, climb the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup standings Wednesday night at the Ynares Center here.
The Kings zoomed to a 17-3 start into the game before breaking away in the second chapter, turning the fixture into a one-sided show for the pro-Barangay crowd as they went on to rise to no. 6 in the team standings.
Now toting a 7-4 card, the traditional contenders improved a spot higher from their previous placing as the Elasto Painters dropped to seventh (6-4).
“It was really our best game of the conference and it couldn’t come at a better time right now when we’re struggling to get into that top six position and getting ready for the playoffs,” head coach Tim Cone offered.
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Justin Brownlee led Ginebra with 29 points on 10-of-18 shooting, 13 rebounds, six assists, a steal, and a block as the three-time Best Import has seemingly regained his form after feeling under the weather during the past few games.
Scottie Thompson was on point as well, finishing with his own full line of 22 points, six rebounds, eight assists, a steal, and a block, doing all that without committing a single turnover in the 32 minutes he played.
Troy Rosario flirted with a double-double by tallying 14 points and eight rebounds, seven of which he collected from the offensive end.
RJ Abarrientos scored 14 also off the bench, while Japeth Aguilar added 12 points as five players scored in double figures in the win that redeemed the Kings from their narrow 91-86 loss to TNT the last time out.
“We’re all disappointed about losing to Talk N Text again after losing to them in the Finals last conference,” said Cone, referring to the Season 49 Governors’ Cup Finals in which they bowed to the Tropang Giga in six games.
“I think everybody had a chip on their shoulder tonight, and just hope we can continue to keep that chip there as we move forward,” he added.
Ginebra will now set its sights on Meralco in another clash between rivals next Wednesday, January 29, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
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Deon Thompson, meanwhile, had 23 points and 15 rebounds to lead Rain or Shine, which has now lost three of its last four games.
Anton Asistio had 14 points, while Adrian Nocum and Jhonard Clarito added 13 and 12 markers, respectively, for a team that failed to follow up their 127-107 rout of current top seed NorthPort in their previous outing.
Coach Yeng Guiao and his charged will look to bounce back immediately when they take on the 4-6 NLEX this Saturday in the same venue.
The Scores:
Ginebra 120 – Brownlee 29, Thompson 22, Rosario 14, Abarrientos 14, J.Aguilar 12, Malonzo 9, Holt 8, R.Aguilar 4, Mariano 3, Pessumal 3, Ahanmisi 2, Pinto 0, Adamos 0, Cu 0.
Rain or Shine 92 – D. Thompson 23, Asistio 14, Nocum 13, Clarito 12, Tiongson 7, Belga 7, Caracut 6, Malonzo 4, Lemetti 3, Demusis 2, Santillan 1, Norwood 0, Datu 0.
Quarterscores: 30-23, 66-45, 91-72, 120-92.
