Jamie Malonzo leads Ginebra’s charge against Converge, secures 4th straight win in PBA Governor’s Cup
4 min readBarangay Ginebra showcased its resilience once again, winning its third game in five nights despite having a depleted roster. The Gin Kings dominated the Converge FiberXers, 120-101, in their PBA Governor’s Cup clash at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig on Sunday.
Jamie Malonzo led the Kings’ charge, drilling in 29 points, including eight rebounds and five assists, in just over 35 minutes of play.
He was supported by Justin Brownlee and Christian Standhardinger, who both had 28 points apiece.
Brownlee also accounted for 10 rebounds and seven assists while Standhardinger had 12 boards, four assists, and three steals. Despite missing their key players, Japeth Aguilar and LA Tenorio, Ginebra showed no signs of slowing down.
Coach Tim Cone praised the team’s character and resilience and its ability to step up when needed in securing their victories despite the absence of Aguilar and Tenorio.
He also noted how Standhardinger has stepped up his game without Aguilar.
“It’s been crazy for us. The fact that the guys keep on stepping up and keep on digging, it’s amazing to watch,” Cone said. “It’s a testament to the character of the guys and the whole team.”
The FiberXers, who had one of the best imports in the tournament, Jamaal Franklin, struggled to keep up with Ginebra’s offensive firepower.
Franklin only scored four points on five field-goal attempts, a far cry from his usual performance.
Ginebra secured their fourth consecutive victory, pulling them up to joint second in the PBA Governors’ Cup eliminations alongside the San Miguel Beermen, with a remarkable record of 7-2. This puts both teams in an excellent position to secure a top-four spot and earn a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
In contrast, the FiberXers suffered their third consecutive loss, marking the end of their journey towards the top four, with a closing record of 6-5 in the eliminations.
The team struggled to keep up with Ginebra’s pace, and Franklin’s below-average performance added to their woes.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone praised his team’s character and resilience in securing their victories despite the absence of Aguilar and Tenorio.
He also noted how Standhardinger has stepped up his game without Aguilar.
“We talked about how important this game is. And coach Tim (Cone) just told us to keep tracking,” Malonzo said after the game.
The Kings outscored the FiberXers in each quarter, demonstrating their dominance throughout the game. Ginebra’s impressive performance despite missing key players is a clear sign of their strength and determination to succeed in the tournament.
The boxscores:
Ginebra 120 – Malonzo 29, Brownlee 28, Standhardinger 28, Gray 16, Thompson 5, Pinto 4, R.Aguilar 4, Pringle 3, Onwubere 3, Pessumal 0, Dillinger 0.
Converge 101 – Ahanmisi 24, Teng 12, Murrell 11, Arana 11, Stockton 10, Tratter 9, Racal 7, Balanza 7, Franklin 4, Ebona 3, Tolomia 3.