By REYNALD MAGALLON
It seemed like the Bishop was really meant to be a King.
Tony Bishop felt exactly at home with Ginebra, joining hands with Christian Standhardinger to add to Converge woes, 100-86, in the 2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday, Nov. 17.
Bishop and Standhardinger took turns in leading the way as the Kings shrugged off some first quarter jitters before unleashing a back-breaking 14-2 run in the third frame to open their title-defense in a winning fashion.
The returning PBA import proved Ginebra made the right choice in picking him in lieu of resident import Justin Brownlee, dropping 34 points and 12 rebounds in his Kings debut while Standhardinger provided ample support with 25 points, 16 rebounds and five assists.
While the Kings looked a little rusty in the opening frame, the two played like a well-oiled machine scoring the team’s first 25 points with Standhardinger being accounted for 18 while Bishop had seven.
The second quarter then saw the two teams scoring 17 points apiece as the Kings finally got things going in the offensive end, turning a once 10 point deficit into a two-point advantage at the half, 52-50.
It was then in the third frame when the rest of the Kings finally woke up from deep slumber with another debuting King in Maverick Ahanmisi, Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar all conniving in the pivotal run that established Ginebra a double-digit spread.
Magnolia bared its defensive fangs right off the gates and disarmed NorthPort en route to a 112-74 victory.
There was simply no looking back for the Hotshots after they clamped down on the Batang Pier, limiting their potent scoring to a measly eight points in the opening quarter to cruise to their third win in as many games.
While NorthPort struggled to find the bottom of the net, the goal looked bigger to the side of Magnolia which poured 28 points in the same quarter to establish an early 20-point lead.
The Batang Pier had a better offensive showing in the ensuing quarters but the lead was just too much to overcome as the Hotshots continued with their scintillating performance with Aris Dionisio even drilling a buzzer-beating trey that built a 34-point advantage, 82-48 heading into the final frame.
Showing no mercy was Magnolia as the lead even ballooned to as high as 38 points in the waning minutes of the final frame.
Tyler Bey led the balanced scoring for Magnolia by posting 25 points, eight rebounds and six assists while four other players reached double-figures in the masterful win.
Mark Barroca led the Hotshots locals with 17 points while Paul Lee added 16 points built on four triples.
