By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings kicked off its 2022-2023 PBA Governors’ Cup title defense with a come-from-behind 116-108 victory over Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night, February 5.

Down 72-81 late in the third quarter, the Gin Kings leaned on a layup by Nard John Pinto and consecutive triples by Justin Brownlee, Stanley Pringle and Pinto to take an 83-81 lead early in the fourth.

The Painters regained the lead at 87-83 after a trey by James Yap, but the Gin Kings countered with five straight points from Pringle and another three-pointer from Pinto to tie the score at 93-all.

Ginebra then unloaded an 8-0 blast behind Christian Standhardinger, Earl Scottie Thompson, Brownlee, and Jeremiah Gray as the lead reached 116-105 on free throws by Japeth Aguilar.

Brownlee finished with triple-double 29 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, while Aguilar and Thompson contributed 18 and 15 markers, respectively, for the Gin Kings.

Pringle and Malonzo tallied 14 markers apiece and Pinto chipped in 12 markers, mostly in the second half, as the defending champion Gin Kings opened the season-ending conference with a win.

Michael Qualls top-scored with 23 points, Beau Belga added 21 markers, while Rey Nambatac and Yap contributed 18 and 11 markers, respectively, as the Painters remained winless in four matches.

In the first game, San Miguel Beermen survived a huge endgame scare from sister team Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots for a 100-98 win. The Beermen moved up to 0-4, while the Hotshots dropped to 0-3.

After building a 100-91 lead on a basket by Cameron Clark, the Beermen suddenly saw their lead cut to 98-100 via a triple by Hotshots’ Andy Mark Barroca and back-to-back layups by Calvin Abueva.

Magnolia still had a chance to steal the win after two missed free throws by San Miguel’s Jaymar Perez, but Paul Lee missed his three-point attempt at the buzzer.

Clark led the Beermen with double-double 19 points and 10 rebounds, Marcio Lassiter added 18 markers, while Perez and June Mar Fajardo contributed 17 and 16 markers, respectively.

GINEBRA 116 — Brownlee 29, J. Aguilar 18, Thompson 15, Pringle 14, Malonzo 14, Pinto 12, Gray 7, Standhardinger 4, Tenorio 3, Mariano 0.

RAIN OR SHINE 108 — Qualls 25, Belga 21, Nambatac 18, Yap 11, Santillan 7, Torres 7, Mamuyac 6, Borboran 5, Demusis 4, Asistio 4, Ponferrada 0.

Quarterscores: 28-21, 50-45, 80-81, 116-108./ASC, WDJ