First was Bay Area.
On 23 October, it was Magnolia Timplados’ turn.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel has been building a reputation of slaying erstwhile unbeaten teams in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, as the Gin Kings dealt the Hotshots their first loss, 103-97, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Ginebra played another solid game as two-time Best Import Justin Brownlee delivered a sterling performance.
A five-time league champion, Brownlee scored his team’s last six points, lifting the Gin Kings to their third win in five games.
But it was reigning Most Valuable Player Scottie Thompson who engineered Ginebra’s comeback from 15 points down.
The heroics of Thompson, who finished with 14 points, four rebounds and six assists, prompted Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone to compare him to no less than Robert Jaworski, the team’s legendary former playing coach.
“I was sitting on the sidelines and told myself, ‘damn, he reminds me of Sonny’,” said Cone. “I grew up watching Sonny Jaworski in his Toyota days and early Ginebra days. I tell you, I’ve never seen someone bringing a team back just like Sonny did, like Scottie. That was really like Jaworski—the barreling drives, the rebounds. It was like a tribute to Sonny tonight.”
The scores:
Barangay Ginebra (103) — Brownlee 26, Malonzo 18, Thompson 14, Standhardinger 14, Aguilar 13, Pringle 6, Tenorio 5, Gray 3, Mariano 3, Pessumal 1, Pinto 0.
Magnolia Timplados (97) — Lee 22, Rakocevic 21, Sangalang 13, Ahanmisi 11, Jalalon 11, Abueva 6, Barroca 5, Dionisio 3, Reavis 2, Dela Rosa 2, Wong 1.
Quarters: 20-24; 41-53; 73-83; 103-97.
