By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings displayed its firepower from start to finish to waylay the Bay Area Dragons, 114-99, in the do-or-die Game 7 of the 2022-2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan on Sunday night, January 15.

Justin Brownlee led the charge with 34 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds, while Jamie Malonzo stepped up with 22 points and 17 rebounds as the Gin Kings bagged their 15th PBA title by winning the series, 4-3.

Earl Scottie Thompson chipped in 18 points and nine rebounds, while Japeth Aguilar, Christian Standhardinger and LA Tenorio also provided spark for the Gin Kings with 14, 12 and 10 markers, respectively.

From a seesaw battle early in the first quarter, the Gin Kings broke away from a seven-all score on back-to-back inside hits by Standhardinger and a dunk by Malonzo for a 16-9 score.

The Gin Kings went on to widen the lead to 25-12 on back-to-back three-pointers by Stanley Pringle and Brownlee, but the Dragons leaned on five straight points by Myles Powell to cut the deficit to 21-27.

The Dragons pulled even closer at 25-27 to start the second quarter, but the Gin Kings responded with another rampage on outside shots from Thompson and Brownlee for a 48-34 lead.

The Gin Kings continued their run to end the second quarter with a two-pointer by Brownlee, five straight points by Thompson and a dunk by Aguilar as the lead swelled to 61-39 at the half.

Barangay Ginebra drew strength on free throws and outside conversions by Malonzo as the lead reached its largest at 75-47. Bay Area cut it to 75-51, but five more points by Malonzo increased the lead back to 80-53.

The Dragons got back-to-back inside hits from Liu Chuanxing and a triple from Powell to cut the deficit to 64-82, but the Gin Kings answered with five straight points by Thompson and back-to-back treys by Tenorio to widen the lead to 95-68.

The Gin Kings were ahead at 99-77 on back-to-back inside conversions by Aguilar to start the fourth quarter, but the Dragons threatened to within 86-101 on two straight hits by Powell and Hayden Blankley.

However, Barangay Ginebra quickly restored order as back-to-back hits by Brownlee and Malonzo, followed by consecutive points from Jeremiah Gray and Thompson, widened the lead to 113-93.

Powell top-scored with 29 points, Blankley added 25 markers, while Liu had double-double 17 points and 13 rebounds as the Dragons fell short of becoming the second guest team to hoist a PBA title.

GINEBRA 114 — Brownlee 34, Malonzo 22, Thompson 18, J. Aguilar 14, Standhardinger 12, Tenorio 10, Pringle 3, Gray 1, Pinto 0, Mariano 0.

BAY AREA 99 — Powell 29, Blankley 25, Liu 17, Lam 13, Zhu 5, Reid 0, Ewing 0, Ju 0, Song 0.

Quarterscores: 27-21, 61-39, 95-71, 114-99./ASC, WDJ