Ginebra import Justin Brownlee. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–Justin Brownlee and Barangay Ginebra had plenty of reasons to be motivated going into their highly-anticipated meeting with the visiting Bay Area Dragons that turned from an expected dogfight into a surprising beatdown on Sunday.
“They’re a guest team here and they’re a great guest team, and we just want to represent our league and play hard,” Brownlee said after firing 46 points in the Gin Kings’ 111-93 win that halted the Dragons’ unbeaten start in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at four.
Ginebra improved to 2-1 before a good-sized crowd at Philsports Arena in Pasig City after a third quarter that further broke Bay Area’s myth of invincibility since arriving in the country in August.
Bay Area, mentored by the well-decorated Brian Goorjian, claimed nine tune-up games against teams from the PBA, UAAP, NCAA and even one from South Korea before going on a tear in the midseason conference.
But Ginebra not only gave Bay Area a humbling result, it also won convincingly thanks to a huge third quarter breakaway.
“I was totally surprised with how we played in that second half,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone, who before the game was eager to engage himself in a tactical battle with his counterpart known for leading Australia to a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
Jamie Malonzo was a stellar supporting role for Brownlee and came up with 17 points and six rebounds for the Gin Kings.
Andrew Nicholson, playing for the first time this conference after dynamic guard Myles Powell suited up in the Dragons’ first four, scored 26 in the first half but was made just two the rest of the way.