WATCH: Interview with Coach Tim Cone and Best Player Justin Brownlee [Dec. 7, 2022]

Brgy. Ginebra came out and played as the higher-seeded team as they are, clobbering the NorthPort Batang Pier, 118-102, in Game 1 of their PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-three showdown at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig Wednesday night.

Justin Brownlee showed up in his usual self as a playoff performer, turning in 39 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the front man of a Ginebra show that send the Kings within a win of the Final Four.

But Brownlee insisted it’s about the whole team pulling a solid effort together.

“We pride ourselves playing together. We did a good job pulling a good team effort,” said Brownlee as validated by their 33 assists compared with NorthPort’s 21.

And there’s Ginebra’s 43 bench points as against NorthPort’s 26.

Coach Tim Cone said these numbers are kind of things that they look forward to.

“It’s how much we’re sharing the ball. That’s what we always try to do,” said Cone, pleased with their showing leading to a crucial head start in the race-to-two-games series.