Photo by Tristan Tamayo/Inquirer.net
Barangay Ginebra didn’t even need its import Justin Brownlee to play in the fourth quarter on Wednesday.
Brownlee had already done his work through three quarters and the Gin Kings outclassed an overmatched Kia Picanto side, 120-99, in the 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The versatile forward had his fingerprints all over the game, nearly having a triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists with two blocks to boot in close to 32 minutes of action.
The Gin Kings, who are even deadlier than before with the 7-foot Greg Slaughter getting back into top form, just had too much firepower for the Picanto.
“We kind of displayed all of our weapons tonight, all of our weapons came in play,” Ginebra head coach Tim Cone told reporters.
“I just thought we had too many weapons for Kia, too many people they had to account for,” said Cone. “But I’m really happy with the focus of our guys, coming out and sustaining it for 48 minutes.”
Ginebra flaunted its depth and had eight players scoring at least eight points led by Brownlee and Slaughter, who finished with 18 points, six rebounds and five assists in just his third game back since being sidelined for 10 months due to an ACL injury.
Even the 37-year-old Mark Caguioa, who is in his 15th season in the league, got into the scoring act and came away with a season-high 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field in less than 14 minutes off the bench.
The Gin Kings, who climbed to 2-1, never trailed and led by as much as 34, 98-64. They went on a 16-2 run in the first three and a half minutes of the third quarter to take a 74-45 lead and put the game away for food.
Ginebra clicked on both ends of the floor, assisting on 39 out of its 44 made field goals and limiting Kia import Markeith Cummings to just 14 points on 6-of-20 shooting from the field with five turnovers in 35 minutes.
The Gin Kings’ assist total was the most in 14 years, according the league head statistician Fidel Mangonon. Ginebra guard Scottie Thompson dished out a game-high 10 assists.
Reden Celda had a team-high 21 points for the Picanto, who slid to 0-4.
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