By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings avoided a fourth quarter meltdown to beat San Miguel Beermen, 121-112, in Game 1 of the 2022-2023 PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City yesterday.

Holding to a 95-80 lead after three quarters, the Gin Kings were stunned by a furious 15-0 blast by the Beermen to start the fourth period that tied the score at 95-all.

Ginebra responded with a triple from Jamie Malonzo, two free throws and an inside hit by Christian Standhardinger, a triple by Earl Scottie Thompson, and a basket by Justin Brownlee to build a 107-99 lead.

The Beermen threatened anew at 103-109, but two triples from Malonzo followed by inside connections by Standhardinger and Brownlee gave the Gin Kings a 119-108 advantage.

Standhardinger finished with 33 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, Malonzo chipped in 27 markers, including five triples, as the Gin Kings took a 1-0 edge in the best-of-five semis series.

Brownlee contributed 24 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, while Thompson and Jeremiah Gray had 15 and 12 markers, respectively, for the defending champion Gin Kings.

Cameron Clark top-scored for the Beermen with 26 points, Jaymar Perez added 20 markers, while Marcio Lassiter and Ilonggo Jericho Cruz had 20 and 13 points, respectively.

GINEBRA 121 — Standhardinger 33, Malonzo 27, Brownlee 24, Thompson 15, Gray 12, Pringle 7, Pinto 3, Pessumal 0.

SAN MIGUEL 112 — Clark 26, Perez 23, Lassiter 20, Cruz 13, Tautuaa 11, Manuel 10, Bulanadi 3, Enciso 3, Herndon 3, Brondial 0, Ross 0.

Quarterscores: 25-22, 62-47, 95-80, 121-112./ASC, WDJ