Justin Brownlee (left) breaks away for an unmolested layup. He didn’t need to do much in helping Ginebra destroy lowly Blackwater. —PHOTOS BY AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Barangay Ginebra pulverized slumping Blackwater in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup before a good-sized Sunday crowd at Ynares Center here in Antipolo City to shake off the ill effects of a midweek setback at the hands of league-leading NorthPort.
But more importantly, the 86-63 romp behind a stellar defensive effort also gave the Gin Kings some breathing room and momentum going into a tough homestretch of the eliminations, beginning with the rematch of the Governors’ Cup Finals against the TNT Tropang Giga.
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“This [game against Blackwater] was really an important game for us to take care of because we don’t want to put pressure on ourselves to sweep the remaining games going into the playoffs,” coach Tim Cone said.
Ginebra, now tied with guest team Hong Kong Eastern and Converge at 6-3, faces TNT on Friday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City in a game perhaps having much more meaning after the Kings were beaten in six games by the Tropang Giga for the championship in November.
From there, the going gets tough for the crowd favorites with Rain or Shine on Jan. 22 back in this city and Meralco on Jan. 29 at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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“Those teams are too good, no margin for error,” said Cone. “It’s all about consistency, consistent effort and consistent focus.”
Consistency on defense is going to be on top of Cone’s agenda after Ginebra forced Blackwater to produce the lowest points scored in a game this season while allowing just 29.9 percent from the field.
That was a complete 360-degree turnaround from the last time Ginebra trooped to the floor when it fell, 119-116, to NorthPort, which made 52.2 percent of its shots.
“We weren’t shooting the ball well, but we had our defensive chops tonight,” Cone said, praising rookie RJ Abarrientos for providing the spark especially in the second and third quarters when Ginebra took control.
Abarrientos finished with 15 points for Ginebra, while import Justin Brownlee scored 18 on top of seven rebounds and four assists.
But a promising development for the Gin Kings is the much-awaited return of Jamie Malonzo, who played almost 11 minutes and scored eight points after being sidelined for nine months due to a calf injury.
Malonzo, who has bulked up as part of his recovery, even scored a breakaway dunk in his return that should help Ginebra shore up its depth entering the games that matter.
Blackwater fell to 1-7 after a miserable showing that put to waste the 27 points of high-scoring import George King.
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The Bossing once again played without rookie Sedrick Barefield due to an injured foot, but will be looking to get an important result on Wednesday against winless Terrafirma Dyip in a battle of lowly teams at Ninoy Aquino Stadium. INQ
