Small but mighty: Ginebra continues winning streak in PBA Governor’s Cup despite injuries of frontcourt players
5 min readDespite missing key frontcourt players Christian Standhardinger and Japeth Aguilar, Barangay Ginebra proved that they still had plenty of heart and firepower as they defeated the NorthPort Batang Pier 115-100 in the PBA Governors Cup at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City Friday, February 10.
Without the presence of Christian Standhardinger and Japeth Aguilar, the Ginebra Kings relied on the outstanding performances of Justin Brownlee, Jamie Malonzo, Nards Pinto, and Jeremiah Gray to secure their third consecutive victory in the season-ending tournament.
Brownlee dazzled with his triple-double (22 points, 15 rebounds, 12 assists), while Malonzo set a career-high with 28 points and 10 boards.
Pinto also made an impact with his 18 points and four three-pointers, and Gray contributed 16 points, including three triples to secure the Kings’ win.
The Gin Kings overcame a slow start, erasing a 10-point deficit to lead by as many as 19 points and secure their third straight win in the tournament.
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE. the Ginebra Kings relied on the outstanding performances of Justin Brownlee and Jamie Malonzo to secure their third consecutive victory in the ongoing PBA Governor’s Cup at the expense of NorthPort Batang Pier despite the absence of Christian Standhardinger and Japeth Aguilar Friday, February 10, at the Mall of Asia Arena. PBA PHOTOS
Malonzo, who not only put up impressive numbers but also made a strong defensive showing against the new NorthPort import, said: “We’re banged up and some key players are out, we just gotta dig deep and gotta give 100 percent effort.”
Malonzo said, “We’re banged up and some key players are out, we just gotta dig deep and gotta give 100 percent effort,” said Malonzo, who’s superb not just with his numbers but the effort he put up defending the new NorthPort import.
Coach Tim Cone praised the efforts of not just Brownlee and Malonzo, but also Pinto, Gray, Stanley Pringle, and Aljon Mariano for their contributions to the team’s success.
He acknowledged the challenges the team faced with missing players but emphasized the importance of giving 100% effort to win games.
“We’re just looking for opportunities to win games early. We’re obviously going to wear down so the wins we’re getting now are important,” Cone said, emphasizing the need for the team to make the most of each opportunity in the condensed 12-game schedule for the team.
Cone tasked Malonzo with taking on multiple responsibilities, including the challenging role of shutting down opposing imports, despite the shortage of frontcourt personnel.
Sans key players in the frontcourt, Ginebra’s win over NorthPort Batang Pier showcased the resilience and versatility of young wingman Jamie Malonzo.
With veteran big men Christian Standhardinger and Japeth Aguilar out with knee injuries and backup Raymond Aguilar getting hurt in the first half, Malonzo stepped up to lead the team with 28 points and 10 rebounds.
Cone, during a post-game media briefing, said, “We have asked Jamie to really do a hard thing, to be our primary lead import stopper.
All the stuff you see on the floor, and that is despite the fact that he literally gives his 100 percent commitment to guarding the import all the time, that’s not easy.”
Despite a strong showing from NorthPort’s Robert Bolick and new import Kevin Murphy, the Kings put up a gutsy stand and made a big 29-point turnaround to wrap up the match.
Barangay Ginebra remains unscathed in the PBA Governors Cup, showing that they are a force to be reckoned with.
The boxscores:
Ginebra 115 – Malonzo 28, Brownlee 22, Pinto 18, Gray 16, Mariano 12, Pringle 5, Thompson 5, R.Aguilar 4, Onwubere 3, Pessumal 2, Tenorio 0, David 0.
NorthPort 100 – Murphy 38, Bolick 30, Munzon 12, Tolentino 7, Taha 4, Chan 3, Calma 2, Caperal 2, Dela Cruz 2, Ayaay 0, Salado 0, Zamar 0.
