
MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings returned to its winning ways in the 2024-25 PBA Commissioner’s Cup with a dominant 86-63 victory over Blackwater Bossing last night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Justin Brownlee spearheaded the offense with 18 points, while Rhon Jay Abarrientos and Japeth Aguilar added 15 and 10 markers, respectively, as the Gin Kings improved to a 6-3 win-loss slate.
Jamie Malonzo returned from close to nine months of absence due to a calf muscle injury to tally eight points, three rebounds, and one steal in close to 11 minutes of action for the Gin Kings.
The Gin Kings struggled with their three-point shots in the opening half, missing their first 15 attempts, but still managed to establish a 39-32 lead over the Bossing at the half.
Barangay Ginebra managed to pull away in the second half behind inside conversions from Brownlee, Rosario, and Malonzo as the lead reached its largest at 25 points in the fourth quarter.
George King top-scored for the Bossing with 27 points, while Frederick Tungcab added 10 markers as they fell to a 1-7 record.
Meanwhile, Kenneth Tuffin converted a go-ahead basket as Phoenix Fuel Masters pulled off a 93-91 victory over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Saturday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
With the score tied at 91-all, Fuel Masters’ Jason Perkins was foiled by the defense of the Painters, but Tuffin was at the right place at the right time to score a marginal tip-in with 0.7 seconds left.
The Painters still had a chance to snatch the victory but the three-point attempt of reinforcement Deon Thompson was blocked the defense of Fuel Masters’ Donovan Smith.
Tuffin finished with eight points and three rebounds as the Fuel Masters notched their first winning streak of the conference to improve to a 3-5 win-loss slate in the standings. The Painters dropped to a 5-2 mark./PN
BOX SCORE:
GINEBRA 86 – Brownlee 18, Abarrientos 15, J. Aguilar 10, Ahanmisi 9, Malonzo 8, Holt 8, Rosario 8, Thompson 5, Pessumal 5, Cu 0, Mariano 0, Adamos 0, Pinto 0.
BLACKWATER 63 – King 27, Tungcab 10, Suerte 9, David 5, Kwekuteye 4, Ponferrada 3, Guinto 2, Montalbo 0, Chua 0, Corteza 0, Hill 0, Casio 0, Jopia 0, Escoto 0.
Quarterscores: 19-13, 39-32, 66-45, 86-63.