MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings recovered from a slow start to score a 102-81 victory over the Magnolia Hotshots in the 2019 Honda PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Justin Brownlee waxed hot with 49 points to go along with 20 rebounds, while Japeth Aguilar, Stanley Pringle and LA Tenorio added 18, 13 and 12 markers, respectively, for the defending champions Kings (6-4).
Down by as much as 11 points in the opening quarter, the Kings slowly battled its way back in the match in the second period behind Brownlee and Earl Scottie Thompson to trim the deficit to 46-47 at the half.
The Hotshots were still on top 58-53 in the third canto when the Kings went on a scoring spree behind Brownlee, Pringle, Tenorio and Aguilar to seize a 78-64 advantage heading into the fourth.
Magnolia made its last push in the final quarter to come to as close as nine points but Ginebra went on a finishing run behind Brownlee, Aguilar and Tenorio for its biggest lead of 21 points.
James Farr finished with double-double 34 points and 21 rebounds, while Andy Mark Barroca and Ian Sangalang chipped in 16 and 14 markers, respectively, for the Hotshots (5-4).
Meanwhile, TNT KaTropa leaned on another torrid outside shooting to stave off the Blackwater Elite, 115-97, and clinch one of the two twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.
Holding to a slim 25-23 edge, the KaTropa went on a huge run in the second period behind inside and outside hits from Terrence Jones, Jeth Troy Rosario and Celedonio Trollano for a 57-34 lead.
The Elite went on a run early in the third to come to as close as 52-61 but the KaTropa retaliated with a run behind Jones and Jayson Castro as the lead reached its largest at 27 points.
Jones had triple-double 36 points, 16 rebounds and 14 assists, while Rosario added 14 markers for the KaTropa (9-1). Bobby Ray Parks Jr. had 21 points and 10 rebounds for the 6-4 Elite./PN
