Ginebra blew out a star-less NorthPort, 106-93, to barge into the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup semis, Friday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
The Kings sprinted away in the second quarter through a 30-point assault and would never look back on the way to becoming the third team to reach the next phase, where they will be facing San Miguel in a best-of-five affair.
Both SMC squads will be figuring in a rematch of the 2023 Governors’ Cup semis, where the crowd darlings swept its way to the Finals.
“That was a long time ago,” reflected Coach Tim Cone of that encounter. “I mean, we had the World Cup. It seemed like it was forever. It’s always something special when we go up against San Miguel.”
“We’re like brothers fighting for the attention of the big bosses,” he added. “It’s a real rivalry. Not that friendly, either, to be honest with you.”
Tony Bishop led the reigning conference champions with a game-high 31 points and 15 rebounds, together with four assists and a steal.
Jamie Malonzo finished with 21 points and seven rebounds, while BPC race leader Christian Standhardinger flirted with a triple-double as he registered 18 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, with a block to his line as well.
Maverick Ahanmisi added 16 he’s now bound for his first semis trip with the crowd darlings, whom he signed with as a free agent last September.
Joshua Munzon and JM Calma, meanwhile, made 19 apiece to lead a Batang Pier side that missed the services of Arvin Tolentino due to knee issues.
Venky Jois came through with a trip-dub by tallying 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists.
The Batang Pier’s semis drought has extended to seven conferences now following another loss to the Kings, a team that they haven’t defeated since Game One of the 2019 Governors’ Cup semis. The losing skid is now at 12.
The Scores:
Ginebra 106 – Bishop 31, Malonzo 21, Standhardinger 18, Ahanmisi 16, Pringle 8, Thompson 4, Tenorio 3, Pinto 3, J.Aguilar 2, Onwubere 0, Pessumal 0.
NorthPort 93 – Munzon 19, Calma 19, Jois 18, Zamar 12, Paraiso 5, Flores 4, Bulanadi 4, Yu 3, Chan 3, Taha 2, Rosales 2, Adamos 2, Amores 0.
Quarterscores: 25-22, 55-35, 76-63, 106-93.
