Barangay Ginebra blows out NorthPort anew to move on cusp of Commissioner's Cup finals

Barangay Ginebra torched NorthPort for the third straight time in their semifinals series, pulling off a 127-100 Game 3 victory in the PBA Commissioner's Cup on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

The Gin Kings need to win Game 4 to return to the finals and face either TNT or Rain or Shine for what could be the franchise's fourth Commissioner's Cup title in history. 

NorthPort kept it close in the first quarter, which ended with Ginebra holding a slim 30-21 lead. But a second-quarter blowout by the Gin Kings turned what was initially a close game to a one-sided affair. 

Ginebra, whose core was coming off a grueling Gilas Pilipinas duty, unleashed 34 points in the second period led by the 16 markers made by the red-hot Jamie Malonzo, who shot a perfect 3-of-3 from downtown in that stretch to give the Gin Kings a massive 64-40 halftime cushion. 

It stayed like that the rest of the way with Ginebra never taking its foot on the gas pedal while NorthPort failed to recover from the huge hole.

Malonzo led the way with 25 points, eight rebounds, and one assist while Justin Brownlee had an all-around outing of 22 markers, eight boards, and eight dimes.

Kadeem Jack was the bright spot for NorthPort after the reinforcement poured in 32 points together with four assists and three rebounds. 

Scores:

Barangay Ginebra 127 – Malonzo 25, Brownlee 22, J.Aguilar 17, Thompson 15, Abarrientos 10, Rosario 10, Ahanmisi 6, Holt 5, Pessumal 4, Gray 4, R.Aguilar 3, Adamos 2, Mariano 2, Tenorio 2, Cu 0, Pinto 0.

NorthPort 100 – Jack 32, Tolentino 15, Taha 11, Yu 6, Miranda 6, Bulanadi 6, Munzon 5, Cuntapay 5, Flores 4, Nelle 3, Navarro 3, Tratter 2, Onwubere 2.

Quarters: 30-21, 64-40, 99-68, 127-100.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News