Barangay Ginebra continued its dominant run in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals, crushing NorthPort, 127-100, in Game 3 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The Kings now hold a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, placing them on the verge of securing a spot in the finals.
Ginebra’s Relentless Attack
Justin Brownlee led the charge, scoring 17 points in the first half alone, including a perfect 4-of-4 from three-point range. Jamie Malonzo also contributed 16 points, going 3-of-3 from deep. Their early offensive explosion helped Ginebra build a massive 64-40 halftime lead.
The Kings maintained their defensive pressure, effectively shutting down NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino and leaving Kadeem Jack as the team’s sole scoring option. Ginebra’s balanced attack saw Malonzo finish with a team-high 25 points, Brownlee with 22, Japeth Aguilar with 17, Scottie Thompson with 15, and both Troy Rosario and RJ Abarrientos chipping in 10 each.
NorthPort’s Struggles Continue
NorthPort, which was one of the top teams in the elimination round, has failed to match Ginebra’s intensity in the semifinals. The Batang Pier trailed by over 30 points in all three games so far, looking far from the squad that lost only three times before the playoffs. Jack led NorthPort with 32 points, but it wasn’t enough to prevent another lopsided defeat.
One Win Away from the Finals
With Rain or Shine defeating TNT in the other semifinal matchup, Ginebra has the chance to become the first team to secure a finals berth. They will have their first opportunity to close out the series in Game 4 on Wednesday at the Big Dome.
If Ginebra maintains its dominance, they could punch their ticket to the championship round in emphatic fashion.
mar02 GINvsNORG3 1q
mar02 GINvsNORG3 2q
mar02 GINvsNORG3 3q
mar02 GINvsNORG3 4q