Barangay Ginebra kicked off their PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup campaign with a convincing 113-107 victory over Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
This win served as a sweet redemption for Jamie Malonzo, who put his past troubles behind him to erupt for a career-high 32 points.
Video by One Sports
Malonzo's impressive performance, which included 12-of-24 shooting from the field and 5-of-9 three-pointers, overshadowed a recent off-court incident and propelled Ginebra to victory.
He wasn't alone in his stellar performance. Christian Standhardinger chipped in a triple-double with 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Maverick Ahanmisi provided additional firepower with 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists.
Japeth Aguilar and Stanley Pringle also contributed significantly off the bench, scoring 17 and 12 points respectively.
Despite the absence of key player Scottie Thompson, Ginebra displayed impressive teamwork, overcoming a determined Rain or Shine squad.
The Elasto Painters, led by Anton Asistio's career-best 21 points, fought valiantly, but ultimately couldn't keep pace with Ginebra's offensive onslaught. Santillan, Mamuyac, Caracut, and Nocum all reached double digits in scoring for Rain or Shine, but their efforts fell short.
The turning point came late in the third quarter with Ginebra locked in a tight battle. Consecutive three-pointers by Malonzo, Ahanmisi, and Nards Pinto ignited a scoring run that the Kings rode to secure the win.
Looking ahead, Barangay Ginebra will face Phoenix in their next game, while Rain or Shine seeks their first win against a resurgent San Miguel Beermen.
The Scores:
GINEBRA 113 – Malonzo 32, Standhardinger 18, Ahanmisi 18, J.Aguilar 17, Pringle 12, Cu 7, Pinto 5, Gumaru 3, Tenorio 1, Pessumal 0, Onwubere 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 107 – Asistio 21, Caracut 16, Santillan 16, Mamuyac 16, Belga 9, Borboran 8, Norwood 5, Clarito 4, Datu 0, Demusis 0.
Quarters: 33-26, 58-52, 92-79, 113-107