Maverick Ahanmisi of Barangay Ginebra drives. Photo by Ernie Sarmiento
Big games in PBA
THE PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals return on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings aiming to sweep its semifinal series against top-seed Northport Batang Pier and Ran or Shine looking to even its own best-of-seven series against TNT.
The Ginebra-Northport setto is scheduled at 5 p.m.
The Rain or Shine-TNT match, on the other hand, will follow at 7:30 p.m.
Both matches promise togive PBA fans another major treat.
Last Sunday, the Gin Kings posted a lopsided 127-100 victory over the Batang Pier, while the E-Painters held off the Tropang Giga, 103-98 at the Big Dome.
Jamie Malonzo and Justin Brownlee led the Tim Cone-mentored Gin Kings’ balance scoring attack.
Malonzo finished with 25 points, including 4-of-5 from the three-point territory, while Brownlee added 22 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
“Our first group is coming out and playing well but our second group led by Jamie (Malonzo) and RJ (Abarrientos) are just playing great. They’ve been able to extend leads and break the back of the other team. That’s a luxury to have,”said Cone in an interview posted on PBA website.
.In the other semifinals, the E-Painters rode on import Deon Thompson, who notched a double-double performance with 19 points and 15 rebounds in victory.
Caelan Tiongson and Adrian Nocum added 18 and 16 points, respectively for coach Yeng Guiao.
“The longer it (series) takes, the better for us. Iyun lang ang chance namin siguro na pag naging short series ito sa kanila na to, eh,” said Guiao.
“Also, we had a really big break. Of course nobody would wish it on anyone, malaking bagay yung injury ni Jayson. Pero when it comes to this point in the playoffs this is really ‘break-down time.’
Malaki talaga chance ng may mag-breakdown sa mga players.”
The results:
Game 1– TNT 88, Rain or Shine 84
Game 2 — TNT 93, Rain or Shine 91
Game 3 — Rain or Shine 103, TNT 98
(TNT leads series, 2-1)
Game 1 — Ginebra 115, Northport 9
Game 2 — Ginebra 119, Northport 106
Game 3 — Ginebra 127, Northport 100
(Ginebra leads series, 3-0).
