Ginebra crushes Northport for 1-0 lead in PBA semifinals

Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Troy Rosario during a PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals game against NorthPort Batang Pier. –PBA IMAGES

Barangay Ginebra seemed like the fresher team and put on a masterful beating of NorthPort, 115-93, Wednesday to gain a headstart in their best-of-seven PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinal series at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Troy Rosario and RJ Abarrientos led a third quarter pullaway that enabled the Gin Kings to shellshock a Batang Pier side that came into the Final Four riding on their incredible run to the top seed and eliminating the Magnolia Hotshots in the quarters.

LIVE: PBA semifinals Game 1 – TNT vs Rain or Shine, Ginebra vs NorthPort

This despite Ginebra dealing with the challenges of preparing the semis without coach Tim Cone, Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, Rosario, Jamie Malonzo and Japeth Aguilar and LA Tenorio due to Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the final window of the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers.

Brownlee topscored for Ginebra with 19 points, four rebounds and four assists after logging heavy minutes not only in the Fiba window but also in the Doha pocket tournament which Gilas participated.

Rosario, who didn’t play against Chinese-Taipei and New Zealand but was part of the trip, posted 16 points and eight rebounds while Abarrientos added 15 points, six rebounds and seven assists for the Gin Kings.

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Ginebra led by 30 on its way to victory as NorthPort was left with questions of how to turn things around in Game 2 set Friday at Philsports Arena.

Batang Pier import Kadeem Jack had 33 points and 12 rebounds, but saw little support from the struggling locals.

Joshua Munzon was the only local in double figures with 10 as Best Player of the Conference frontrunner Arvin Tolentino scored only seven points.

Munzon and Tolentino also combined for a 5-of-22 shooting in the setback.