In Jamie Malonzo’s return, the Ginebra Gin Kings also bounced back from their loss to the NorthPort Batang Pier in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.
Do-it-all Ginebra guard Scottie Thompson disrupted George King’s offense, initiated a fastbreak play, then shared the ball to a streaking Jamie Malonzo who punctuated the sequence with an emphatic two-handed flush.
That play highlighted Malonzo’s return from a calf injury and a furious Gin Kings assault in the third period on their way to an 86-63 rout in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday, Jan. 12.
Ginebra fans had to wait nine months before seeing Malonzo take flight again, and it was worth the wait.
“For Jamie himself, it’s been a long, long road for him. We watched him from the side and see the work he’s done. It was just a culmination of the hard work of getting back in the lineup,” said Gin Kings chief tactician Tim Cone of Malonzo.
Malonzo finished with eight points, three rebounds and an assist in almost three minutes of action.
Cone said Malonzo, who also sat out the squad's NorthPort match the last time out owing to an illness, is playing restricted minutes.
“We have minute restrictions on him. We’ll try to continue to monitor his minutes for the next few games. Hopefully, they’ll increase incrementally as the games come along,” said the winningest PBA coach.
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As Malonzo made his much-awaited comeback, the Gin Kings also rebounded from a stinging loss to the Batang Pier to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot with a sixth win in nine games.
That was all thanks to a fiery 27-13 assault in the third period, where Ginebra turned a tight first half into a breakaway.
The Gin Kings entered the final period with a 66-45 advantage, and they were never in any danger of wasting it away.
Justin Brownlee led all Ginebra scorers with 18 points he spiked with seven rebounds, four assists, an assist and a block.
RJ Abarrientos shot two triples on his way to 15 points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal, while Japeth Aguilar and Maverick Ahanmisi combined for 19 points and 11 boards.
Meanwhile, King paced the Bossing with 27 points, six rebunds, and an assist, but that proved futile as his team fell to their seventh loss in eight games.
Jaydee Tungcab added 10 markers.
The Scores:
GINEBRA 86 – Brownlee 18, Abarrientos 15, J.Aguilar 10, Ahanmisi 9, Malonzo 8, Holt 8, Rosario 8, Thompson 5, Pessumal 5, Cu 0, Mariano 0, Adamos 0, Pinto 0.
BLACKWATER 63 – King 27, Tungcab 10, Suerte 9, David 5, Kwekuteye 4, Ponferrada 3, Guinto 2, Montalbo 0, Chua 0, Corteza 0, Hill 0, Casio 0, Jopia 0, Escoto 0.
Quarterscores: 19-13, 39-32, 66-45, 86-63