Barangay Ginebra snapped rival Magnolia's five-game winning streak as it eked out a 103-97 comeback victory in the 2022 PBA Commissioner's Cup on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
In front of a 12,087-strong crowd, the Gin Kings erased a 15-point deficit, 83-68, late in the third period by outscoring the Hotshots in the fourth, 30 to 14, to bounce back from a previous loss.
Ginebra improved to 3-2 following a close defeat to Phoenix last week while also dealing Magnolia its first loss of the conference for a 5-1 win-loss card.
Justin Brownlee led Ginebra with monster numbers of 26 points, 12 assists, eight rebounds, and five blocks while Jamie Malonzo impressed with 18 markers off the bench to go along with 14 boards and two steals.
Scottie Thompson had an all-around outing of 14 points, six dimes, four boards, and one steal as big men Christian Standhardinger and Japeth Aguilar chipped in 14 and 13 points apiece.
“It was a typical a never-say-die Ginebra game in the 1990s in my opinion. I remember those. I remember being on the other side of those teams, when I was losing to those teams,” said Gin Kings head coach Tim Cone.
“So it is great to be on this side.”
Paul Lee fired a conference-high 22 points, with 15 coming in the first half as the Hotshots entered the break with a 53-41 cushion.
Magnolia maintained that double-digit lead at the end of the third quarter, 83-73, before Ginebra opened the final canto with a 16-6 blitz capped by back-to-back Standhardinger buckets to knot the score.
Rakocevic netted 21 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals in the losing cause.
The Scores
Barangay 103 – Brownlee 26, Malonzo 18, Thompson 14, Standhardinger 14, J.Aguilar 13, Pringle 6, Tenorio 5, Mariano 3, Gray 3, Pessumal 1, Pinto 0.
Magnolia 97 – Lee 22, Rakocevic 21, Sangalang 13, Ahanmisi 11, Jalalon 11, Abueva 6, Barroca 5, Dionisio 3, Dela Rosa 2, Reavis 2, Wong 1.
Quarters: 20-24, 41-53, 73-83, 103-97.
