By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings overcame a lousy start to eliminate NLEX Road Warriors, 127-93, in the 2022-2023 PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night, March 19.
Justin Brownlee led the way with 31 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and four steals, while Jamie Malonzo and Christian Standhardinger added 20 markers apiece as the Gin Kings booked a return trip to the semifinals with a lopsided win.
Jeremiah Gray posted double-double 15 points and 10 rebounds, Von Pessumal chipped in 12 points on four three-pointers, while Earl Scottie Thompson and Aljon Mariano had 10 points each for the defending champion Ginebra.
Playing against the import-less Road Warriors, the Gin Kings struggled in the opening quarter to lead by 18-17 before pulling away in the second quarter behind triples by Brownlee and Malonzo for a 56-36 halftime lead.
The lead swelled further in the second half for Barangay Ginebra with Standhardinger, Thompson and Gray making their contributions until it reached its biggest at 106-68 via a Pessumal triple early in the fourth period.
Sean Anthony tallied 16 points to lead the way for the Road Warriors, Kevin Alas added 15 markers, while Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Celedonio Trollano had 14 each as they were forced to play minus Wayne Selden, Jr. due to an injury.
Meanwhile, the Beermen leaned on a third quarter breakaway to knock off Converge FiberXers in just one game in the quarterfinals, 121-105, and advance to the semifinals round.
After being down 61-66 early in the third quarter, the Beermen turned things around behind inside conversions by Jaymar Perez, Vic Manuel and Cameron Clark for a 94-82 advantage.
The FiberXers attempted to come close in the fourth quarter as they trimmed the deficit to 92-99, but timely conversions by Ilonggo Jericho Cruz, Manuel and Perez gave the Beermen a 121-103 lead with less than a minute left.
Clark tallied double-double 40 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Beermen, Perez added 26 markers and 12 boards, while Manuel had a perfect outing of 20 points on 9-of-9 field goal shooting.
GINEBRA 127 — Brownlee 31, Standhardinger 20, Malonzo 20, Gray 15, Pessumal 12, Thompson 10, Mariano 10, Pringle 5, Pinto 4, R. Aguilar 0, David 0, Onwubere 0.
NLEX 93 — Anthony 16, Alas 15, Ganuelas-Rosser 14, Trollano 14, Rosales 11, Semerad 10, Miranda 7, Doliguez 4, Nieto 2, Pascual 0, Gabo 0.
Quarterscores: 18-17, 56-36, 93-62, 127-93./ASC, WDJ