MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings made sure it did not have another meltdown against Magnolia Hotshots. It posted a 106-80 rout in Game 2 of the 2019 Honda PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Justin Brownlee waxed hot with 30 points to go along with nine rebounds and six assists as the Kings entered the semifinals round. It would face the winner of the TNT KaTropa and Alaska Aces series.
Japeth Aguilar registered 18 markers while LA Tenorio, Mark Caguioa and Stanley Pringle also made their presence felt with 13, 12 and 11 markers, respectively.
The two-game sweep of the quarterfinals series made up for the defending champion’s heartbreaking losses to the Hotshots in the 2018 PBA Governor’s Cup semifinals and in the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals.
“It always feels good to have some payback but we’re really just being satisfied with that,” Brownlee said. “It’s a bigger goal, we’re trying to look at the bigger picture than just getting payback on Magnolia.”
It was a seesaw battle until midway in the second period when the score was tied at 32-all. Then the Kings pulled to a 47-39 halftime edge on consecutive points from Brownlee.
Ginebra broke the game wide open in the second half with Brownlee continuing his offensive outburst with the help of Caguioa, Aguilar and Tenorio. The lead reached its largest at 99-64 on two free throws by Gregory Slaughter.
Andy Mark Barroca top-scored with 17 points, while Rakeem Christmas and Ian Sangalang chipped in 15 and 12 markers, respectively, as the Hotshots bowed out of contention.
In the second game, Blackwater Elite showed its poise down the stretch to escape with a 100-96 victory over Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and stretch the series to a do-or-die Game 3 on Thursday.
Greg Smith tallied double-double 31 points and 18 rebounds as rookie Bobby Ray Parks Jr. chipped in 28 markers for the Elite. Jayvee Mocon topped the Painters in scoring with 25 points./PN
