Barangay Ginebra survived Magnolia, 87-84, in game one of their best-of-five semis Clasico in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on 14 December at the Philsports Arena.
The Gin Kings survived a grueling, defensive struggle as import Justin Brownlee came up with only 11 points. Fortunately, Jaime Malonzo stepped up with a career-high playoff output.
Malonzo finished with 21 points, 12 rebounds and three steals while hitting all seven shots from the free throw area.
Both teams shot only 37.5 percent from the field in the series opener, but the Gin Kings got 11 more second chance points, 27-16.
The Hotshots lost import Nick Rakocevic midway the third period due to a disqualifying foul, but Barangay Ginebra just couldn’t put away its rival as Paul Lee, Aris Dionisio, Ian Sangalang and Calvin Abueva, took the cudgels in his absence.
The scores:
GINEBRA 87 – Malonzo 21, Thompson 16, Standhardinger 14, Brownlee 11, Pringle 8, Tenorio 6, J.Aguilar 6, Gray 3, Mariano 2
MAGNOLIA 84 – Lee 21, Dionisio 12, Sangalang 10, Abueva 10, Dela Rosa 7, Jalalon 6, Barroca 4, Corpuz 4, Mendoza 0, Reavis 0, Wong 0, Laput 0
QUARTERS: 24-22, 45-44, 70-67, 87-84
