ANTIPOLO – Ginebra gave Jamie Malonzo a victorious return following an 86-63 conquest of the free-falling Blackwater to get back on track in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday at the Ynares Center here.
The 6-foot-7 winger, now sporting a bulkier build, contributed eight points on seven shots plus three rebounds and a steal in nearly 11 minutes of action for a commendable showing in his first game back since April of last year.
He made his presence felt in the third quarter, scoring six to help out in the Kings’ breakaway — highlighted by a two-handed jam to end the break and give themselves a 62-41 lead with 2:37 to go, much to the delight of the crowd.
The Barangay would cruise to the W and find redemption after absorbing a 119-116 defeat to NorthPort last Wednesday, improving to 6-3 and creating a three-way tie with Eastern and Converge at no. 3 the standings along the way.
“It was just a culmination of his hard work in going back,” said head coach Tim Cone of the former no. 3 overall pick’s comeback from a calf injury.
Justin Brownlee top-scored for the Kings with 18 points on a 50-percent clip, alongside seven rebounds, four assists, a steal, and a block as he overcame Charley horse late in the first quarter for another full-line outing.
The performance, furthermore, should be a good bounce-back for the three-time Best Import after an uncharacteristically sloppy endgame for him against the Batang Pier that doomed their chances against the current top seed.
RJ Abarrientos produced 15 points, spiked by a pair of treys. Japeth Aguilar made 10 points and seven rebounds with two blocks, while Maverick Ahanmisi, Stephen Holt, and Troy Rosario chipped in at least eight points each.
The victory should serve as a solid warmup for their much-anticipated meeting versus TNT on Friday, January 17, at the Philsports Arena in a rematch of the last two Governors’ Cup Finals. Game time is set at 7:30 p.m.
George King, on the other hand, only had 27 points — a subpar output by his own standards — and six rebounds for Blackwater, who fell to 107.
Jaydee Tungcab was the only other double-digit scorer for the Bossing with 10 as Coach Jeff Cariaso and Co. once again missed Sedrick Barefield.
Now in the midst of a four-game losing slide, Blackwater will try to arrest its skid against the winless Terrafirma this Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Scores:
Ginebra 86 – Brownlee 18, Abarrientos 15, J.Aguilar 10, Ahanmisi 9, Malonzo 8, Holt 8, Rosario 8, Thompson 5, Pessumal 5, Cu 0, Mariano 0, Adamos 0, Pinto 0.
Blackwater 63 – King 27, Tungcab 10, Suerte 9, David 5, Kwekuteye 4, Ponferrada 3, Guinto 2, Montalbo 0, Chua 0, Corteza 0, Hill 0, Casio 0, Jopia 0, Escoto 0.
Quarterscores: 19-13, 39-32, 66-45, 86-63.
