By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings hacked out a 121-103 rout of San Miguel Beermen in Game 2 of the 2022-2023 PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City on Sunday night, March 26.
Justin Brownlee tallied 32 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals, while Christian Standhardinger added 32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the Gin Kings moved closer to a finals return after taking a 2-0 edge in the best-of-three series.
Earl Scottie Thompson had triple-double 21 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists to go with three steals and two blocks, while Jamie Malonzo ended with 11 markers for the defending champion Ginebra.
The Gin Kings were blazing to start the game as they surged to an 18-1 lead behind Brownlee, Standhardinger and Thompson. The Beermen clawed to within 24-31, but Ginebra pulled away anew in the second quarter for a 63-45 halftime lead.
The Beermen threatened to come close in the second half as they cut the deficit to 68-76, but the Gin Kings had quick answers from Brownlee, Standhardinger and Thompson as the lead reached its largest at 101-77 on a Malonzo three-pointer.
Cameron Clark had double-double 23 points and 17 rebounds, Jaymar Perez added 20 markers, while Chris Ross and Moala Tautuaa had 19 and 12, respectively, for the Beermen.
Meanwhile, the Meralco Bolts relied on Aaron Black’s career-game as they scored a 124-117 overtime win against TNT Tropang Giga in Game 2 of their semifinals series, which is now tied at 1-1.
After trading baskets to start the extended period, the Bolts went on an 8-0 scoring blast via an inside hit by Clifford Hodge and six straight points from Black to establish a 122-114 lead.
The Tropang Giga cut it to seven on a split free throw by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson with less than two minutes left, but a dunk by Bolts reinforcement KJ McDaniels sealed the victory.
Black finished with a career-high tying 28 points to go with a career-best 10 assists, McDaniels had double-double 39 points and 20 rebounds, while Hodge and Kier John Quinto had 15 and 11, respectively, for the Bolts.
GINEBRA 121 — Brownlee 32, Standhardinger 32, Thompson 21, Malonzo 11, Gray 9, Pringle 7, Pinto 5, Mariano 4, Pessumal 0, Onwubere 0.
SAN MIGUEL 103 — Clark 23, Perez 20, Ross 19, Tautuaa 12, Lassiter 8, Cruz 5, Herndon 5, Bulanadi 5, Enciso 3, Brondial 2, Faundo 1, Manuel 0.
Quarterscores: 31-24, 63-45, 94-72, 121-103./ASC, WDJ