By REYNALD MAGALLON
Jamie Malonzo conspired with Justin Brownlee to haunt his former team as Ginebra snapped NorthPort’s three-game win streak with a 122-105 victory in the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the PhilSports Arena on Sunday, Nov. 27.
Malonzo spearheaded the huge fourth quarter breakaway for the Kings, who after trailing for the most part of the first three quarters, seized control of the contest with a 13-2 blast that established a double-digit advantage in the payoff period.
The 6-foot-7 high flying forward dropped 10 of his 26 points in the final frame, while Brownlee flirted with another triple-double of 31 points, 13 rebounds and nine assist.
The win kept Ginebra’s bid alive for the twice-to-beat advantage after improving to an 8-3 record.
The Batang Pier actually controlled the tempo early on behind the inspired performance from a former King and part of the Malonzo trade in Arvin Tolentino along with the steady showing from Robert Bolick and Prince Ibeh.
Ginebra, however, managed to tighten up its defensive screws in the payoff period, limiting the Batang Pier to just 13 points after exploding for 32 in the opening frame and 29 each in the middle quarters.
Tolentino led the way for NorthPort with 24 points on a 6-of-9 clip from deep while Ibeh added a double-double of 23 points and 13 rebounds. Bolick also had his share of the limelight with 22 points.
The efforts however were not enough as the Batang Pier wrapped up the eliminations with a 6-6 slate.
In a rare display of offensive force, Magnolia unleashed a blistering third quarter assault to shake off a gritty Meralco side, 108-96, and put its bid for a quarterfinals bonus back on track.
The Hotshots fired on all cylinders and just couldn’t miss in that back-breaking third quarter rally that saw them drop 47 points – the most by any team in a quarter in the past six years – to build a massive 19-point lead which they managed to protect until the buzzer.
Magnolia, which absorbed its second loss in the conference against Bay Area last game, vented its ire on Meralco to improve to a 9-2 record and solidify its hold of the second spot in the standings.
Paul Lee dropped 11 of his 27 points in that huge third quarter. He highlighted his game with five triples while Calvin Abueva provided the energy on both ends of the floor with 17 points.
The scores:
First Game
MAGNOLIA 108 – Lee 27, Abueva 17, Rakocevic 16, Jalalon 12, Sangalang 11, Barroca 11, Dela Rosa 6, Ahanmisi 3, Reavis 2, Corpuz 2, Laput 1, Wong 0, Dionisio 0.
MERALCO 96 – McDaniels 32, Black 16, Quinto 14, Banchero 11, Johnson 9, Almazan 8, Caram 2, Hodge 2, Pascual 2, Maliksi 0, Hugnatan 0, Pasaol 0, Jose 0.
Quarters: 27-21, 46-51, 93-74, 108-96
Second Game
GINEBRA 122 – Brownlee 31, Malonzo 26, Standhardinger 20, Gray 12, Thompson 8, J.Aguilar 7, Pringle 7, Mariano 6, Tenorio 3, Pinto 2
NORTHPORT 105 – Tolentino 24, Ibeh 23, Bolick 22, Navarro 11, Chan 10, Ferrer 8, Balanza 4, Taha 3, Sumang 0.
Quarters: 27-34, 63-63, 93-92, 122-105.
