QUICK-FIRE GINEBRA CLINCHES PLAYOFF BERTH AFTER ROUT OF RAIN OR SHINE

ANTIPOLO – Barangay Ginebra went on a fiery start and never looked back to rout Rain or Shine, 120-92, and clinch a quarterfinals berth on Wednesday in the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center.

The Gin Kings opened the match with a 17-3 lead and were not seriously threatened from there in a crucial win that assured them safe passage to the playoffs and a shot at a higher seeding in the quarterfinals.

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After starting the match at No. 7, Ginebra breached the Top Six with a 7-4 win-loss record, avoiding, at least for the moment, the last two spots in the quarterfinals with one game to play against Meralco on January 29.

Rain or Shine, meanwhile, lost for the third time over its last four games to slip to 6-4 and at seventh place in a crowded leaderboard with two matches left in the elims, including a Saturday game against NLEX.

PHOTO: Mark Cristino

Ginebra shone on both ends, scoring its highest offensive output of the conference while limiting Rain or Shine to its second lowest point total of the campaign.

"We haven’t put a good game together this conference and tonight was one of those games where everything came together. We played well defensively, really well offensively and we shot the ball well," said Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone.

"So it was really our best game of the conference and it couldn't come at a better time right now. We’re struggling to get into that top six position and getting ready for the playoffs. So really pleased with the effort everybody had tonight," said Cone.

The win was a huge bounce back from Ginebra’s 91-86 loss to TNT last Friday.

"We were all disappointed at losing to Talk ‘N Text again after losing to them in the finals last conference. So I think everybody had a little bit of a chip on their shoulder tonight. And just hoping to continue to keep that chip there as we move forward," said Cone.

Justin Brownlee had 29 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists, while Scottie Thompson essayed his best performance this conference so far with 22 points, six rebounds, and eight assists.

Troy Rosario had 14 points and eight rebounds, seven on the offensive end for the Gin Kings.

Deon Thompson had 23 points and 15 rebounds, while Anton Asistio had 14 points but Rain or Shine couldn’t recover from the flat start.

The scores:

Barangay Ginebra 120 – Brownlee 29, Thompson 22, Abarrientos 14, Rosario 14, J. Aguilar 12, Malonzo 9, Holt 8, R. Aguilar 4, Pessumal 3, Mariano 3, Ahanmisi 2, Cu 0, Pinto 0, Adamos 0.

Rain or Shine 92 – Thompson 23, Asistio 14, Nocum 13, Clarito 12, Tiongson 7, Belga 7, Caracut 6, Malonzo 4, Lemetti 3, Demusis 2, Santillan 1, Norwood 0, Datu 0.

Quarters: 30-23; 66-45; 91-72; 120-92.

2025-01-22T14:13:41Z