MANILA – Jamie Malonzo anchored Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings’ endgame run to defeat TNT Tropang Giga, 95-78, in Game 4 of the 2024-25 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals last night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Holding to a 74-72 lead with over eight minutes left, the Gin Kings got a basket and two free throws from Malonzo and two-pointers from Japeth Aguilar and Justin Brownlee for an 82-74 lead.
The Gin Kings continued their run with two three-pointers from Malonzo and an inside hit and a three-pointer from Maverick Ahanmisi for the largest lead at 95-78 with under a minute left.
Malonzo finished the game with a conference-high of 24 points, including six three-point conversions, to go with four rebounds, one assist, and a block, as the Gin Kings tied the best-of-seven series at 2-2.
Justin Brownlee played through a dislocated right thumb injury to tally a double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Aguilar and Stephen Holt contributed 18 and 12 points, respectively, for the Gin Kings.
Gin Kings head coach Tim Cone said after the game that he thought that they will be playing with an all-Filipino roster in Game 4 following the injury of Brownlee, but the insisted on playing.
“I thought, from what I saw, from what I heard, that there was no way that Justin is gonna play today, I also thought that he is out for the series,” Cone said. “We are already looking for options, and Justin said that, ‘I can play.’”
Calvin Oftana top-scored for the Tropang Giga with 17 points, Roger Pogoy added 16 markers, while Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Rey Nambatac ended with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Prior to the game, Hollis-Jefferson was awarded his third Best Import of the Conference award, while NorthPort Batang Pier’s Arvin Tolentino won his first Best Player of the Conference citation./PN
BOX SCORE:
GINEBRA 95 – Malonzo 24, Brownlee 23, J. Aguilar 18, Holt 12, Thompson 9, Ahanmisi 7, Abarrientos 2, Rosario 0, Cu 0, Mariano 0, Pinto 0.
TNT 78 – Oftana 17, Pogoy 16, Hollis-Jefferson 14, Nambatac 13, Erram 9, Williams 9, Aurin 0, Khobuntin 0, Razon 0, Heruela 0, Ebona 0.
Quarterscores: 31-21, 53-49, 72-66, 95-78.
