Brgy. Ginebra def NorthPort, 118-102 [QF Game 1 | Season 47 Comm’s Cup | Dec. 7, 2022]
Brgy. Ginebra displayed its championship pedigree and dismantled NorthPort with ease, 118-102, in Game 1 of their best-of-three quarterfinal series in the PBA Season 47 Commissioner’s Cup, Wednesday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
The Gin Kings unleashed a 19-4 run, with 11 coming from resident import Justin Brownlee, in the closing stretch of the third period which turned a 70-all deadlock into a 15-point advantage going into the final frame.
Brownlee finished with 39 points on 16-24 shooting highlighted by 5-of-8 from 3-point country to go with 8 rebounds, 7 assists, a steal and 4 blocks in 45 minutes of play.
“I’m going to have to look at the video and find out. It was just a blink of an eye, all of a sudden we had kind of broken it open and got to 10 or 11. Suddenly, it was 15 or 17,” said head coach Tim Cone on their 2nd half breakaway.
“They came right back at us and got it down to 11 or nine points. They’re a frustrating team to play because they’re good,” he added.
Stanley Pringle added 16 points while Jamie Malonzo came up with a stat line of 13 points, 9 boards, 4 assists, 2 steals and a block. LA Tenorio scored 12 on 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc while Scottie Thompson chipped in 11 markers to go with 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals.
Tenorio hiked his total triples to 1,174 and moved past Ronnie Magsanoc for 4th place in the league’s all-time list for most three-pointers made. “The Gineral” is just 6 treys away from third placer James Yap and 76 from the top spot held by Jimmy Alapag.
“This is playoff time and LA has always stepped up in playoff time or in big games throughout his whole career,” said Cone of the crowd darlings’ chief playmaker. “I’m happy that it’s playoff time and we automatically know, LA’s going to step up.”
The Gin Kings will try to formalize their entry into the next round when they clash anew in Game 2 which is set on Satuday, December 10, 4:30pm in the same venue.
