To commemorate the return of high flyer Jamie Malonzo, Barangay Ginebra defeated Blackwater 86-63 on Sunday in the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center.

In terms of winning percentage, the Gin Kings improved to 6-3 after suffering an unexpected loss to NorthPort last Wednesday. They are now tied for third place with Converge and Eastern and TNT (4-2).

In addition, Ginebra will play TNT in a rematch of the Governors’ Cup Finals on Friday at the Philsports Arena.

More than nine months after sustaining a calf injury, Malonzo made his Ginebra season debut, scoring eight points in 10 minutes and 56 seconds of action on 2-for-7 field goals and 4-for-5 free throws.

Malonzo didn’t need much help from the Gin Kings, who went on a 27–13 third quarter to permanently distance themselves from Blackwater and hand the Bossing their seventh defeat in eight games.

Ginebra defeated NorthPort 119-116 last Wednesday, limiting Blackwater to a conference-low 63 points.

“We weren’t shooting the ball well but we came with our defensive chops tonight,” Tim Cone, coach of Ginebra, remarked. “That’s something we did not show up with NorthPort. You’ve got to give NorthPort a lot of credit. They shot the ball very well, but they were also getting shots that we shouldn’t have given them.”

After suffering a bruised calf in the first quarter, Justin Brownlee managed to finish with 18 points and seven rebounds.

RJ Abarrientos scored 11 of his 15 points in the first half. Late in the second quarter, he made two three-pointers to give the Gin Kings their spark.

Blackwater, who once again lost to Sedrick Barefield and RK Ilagan, had 27 points from George King and 10 from Jaydee Tungcab.

The Scores

Barangay Ginebra 86 – Brownlee 18, Abarrientos 15, J. Aguilar 10, Ahanmisi 9, Malonzo 8, Rosario 8, Holt 8, Thompson 5, Pessumal 5, Cu 0, Pinto 0, Mariano 0, Adamos 0.

Blackwater 63 – King 27, Tungcab 10, Suerte 9, David 5, Kwekuteye 4, Ayonayon 3, Ponferada 3, Guinto 2, Escoto 0, Jopia 0, Chua 0, Montalbo 0, Corteza 0, Hill 0, Casio 0.

Quarter scores; 19-13; 39-32; 66-45; 86-63.

Meanwhile, in Sunday’s PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center, San Miguel defeated Magnolia 85-78 thanks to two crucial three-pointers made by Marcio Lassiter in the closing two minutes. 

The Beermen ended a two-game losing streak and defeated the Hotshots, a more conventional opponent, thanks to a spectacular three-pointer from CJ Perez in the closing seconds.

Magnolia suffered its sixth defeat in nine games when San Miguel tied the score at 4-4.

With four minutes remaining in the game and a five-point advantage, 74-69, the Hotshots had yet another dismal conclusion.

After Magnolia’s defense broke down in June Mar Fajardo, who buried the three from the left side to put San Miguel ahead 77-76, Lassiter was left wide open.

With 51.9 seconds remaining, the San Miguel veteran increased the margin to four points with another trey from the right side.

Despite finishing the game with eight points and shooting 3-for-10 from the field—his two three-pointers were his only outside shots—Lassiter actually had a difficult game.

With a team-high 23 points, Perez stretched SMB’s final three-pointer with 25 seconds remaining, giving them an 83-78 lead that was effectively the game-ending blow. In the win, he threw out 10 assists and went 3-for-4 from three-point range.

Early in the fourth quarter, Magnolia stormed back and took a six-point lead, 68-62, the largest lead for the Hotshots in the game, while San Miguel was already ahead by as much as 13 points, 42-29. 

San Miguel, which will play Meralco on Saturday in Candon, Ilocos Sur, had 18 points and 23 rebounds from Jabari Narcis and 13 points and 14 rebounds from Fajardo.

The Hotshots, who will now play a revitalized Phoenix on Thursday, had 24 points and 15 rebounds from Ricardo Ratliffe and 13 points and six assists from Mark Barroca.

The Scores

San Miguel 85 – Perez 23, Narcis 18, Fajardo 13, Tiongson 13, Cruz 10, Lassiter 8, Cahilig 0, Ross 0, Brondial 0, Trollano 0.

Magnolia 78 – Ratliffe 24, Barroca 13, Lucero 9, Lastimosa 9, Sangalang 6, Abueva 4, Alfaro 4, Dela Rosa 4, Ahanmisi 3, Balanza 2, Dionisio 0, Laput 0.

Quarter scores: 20-17; 40-29; 60-60; 85-78.