By REYNALD MAGALLON
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel just loves ending other teams’ winning streaks. There was a thrill and joy in doing it.
After handing PBA guest team Bay Area Dragons their first taste of defeat, the Gin Kings, behind the huge fourth quarter performance from Justin Brownlee and Scottie Thompson, also sent the previously undefeated Magnolia reeling to its first loss with a 103-97 decision in the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, Oct. 23.
Before the 12,087 fans in attendance, Brownlee took matters into on his own hands once again as he dropped 10 of 26 points in the final quarter – including the huge step back jumper that put Ginebra ahead for good, 99-97, before also drilling last four points via the free throw line to put the game to rest.
Thompson actually joined hands with Brownlee, scoring nine of his 14 points during the telling run that erased an eight-point deficit early in the final frame.
Brownlee added 14 boards and four assists while Jamie Malonzo impressed in his very first Manila Clasico with a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds. Christian Standhardinger was the other double-digit scorer for the team with 14.
Paul Lee paced the Hotshots with 22 points built on six triples while Nick Rakocevic added 21 points although he was visibly bothered by the Kings’ defense as he shot a poor 6-of-21 clip from the field.
SMB WINS
Meantime, Devon Scott and Vic Manuel finished what Marcio Lassiter had started as San Miguel Beer outgunned NLEX, 124-116, to snap its two-game slump.
The Beermen engaged the Road Warriors in a torrid scoring showdown with Lassiter anchoring SMB’s huge 45-point explosion in the opening frame with six triples although they had to lean on Manuel and Scott in the second half to keep the gritty NLEX at bay and pick up their second win in the conference.
Scott dropped 10 of his 26 points while Manuel scattered 16 in the second half to finish with 22 points as SMB repulsed the repeated threats from NLEX.
SMB’s win put to waste the 45-point performance of NLEX import Earl Clark.
The scores:
First Game
SAN MIGUEL 124 – Scott 26, Lassiter 22, Manuel 22, Perez 16, Cruz 15, Perez 14, Herndon 6, Ross 3, Enciso 0, Brondial 0.
NLEX 116 – Clark 40, Chua 23, Trollano 21, Nieto 12, Alas 10, Fonacier 3, Miranda 3, Varilla 2, Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Rosales 0.
Quarters: 43-35, 66-57, 95-90, 124-116.
Second Game
GINEBRA 103 – Brownlee 26, Malonzo 18, Thompson 14, Standhardinger 14, J.Aguilar 13, Pringle 6, Tenorio 5, Mariano 3, Gray 3, Pessumal 1, Pinto 0.
MAGNOLIA 97 – Lee 22, Rakocevic 21, Sangalang 13, Ahanmisi 11, Jalalon 11, Abueva 6, Barroca 5, Dionisio 3, Dela Rosa 2, Reavis 2, Wong 1.
Quarters: 20-24, 41-53, 73-83, 103-97.
