For the second time in three games, Justin Brownlee has completed a triple-double performance for defending champion Barangay Ginebra.
The three-time Best Import finished with 22 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists as the Gin Kings coasted to their third win in as many games by whipping NorthPort, 115-100, in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors' Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday, 10 February.
As early as the third quarter, Brownlee, a six-time champion, had already achieved his second triple-double showing
Brownlee wasn't the only one who took the cudgels for the league's most popular team, but he also got solid contributions from players who needed to raise their game to the next level as they played without their twin towers — Japeth Aguilar and Christian Standhardinger — both of them nursing separate injuries.
Athletic wingmen Jamie Malonzo and Jeremiah Gray joined forces up front as the Gin Kings had to play faster with a smaller lineup, while Scottie Thompson, Stanley Pringle, and even role players like Nards Pinto and Aljon Mariano stepped up big to fill in the huge voids left by their key big men.
"We're just looking for opportunities to win early and with these injuries," said Barangay Ginebra. "We're not used to having Jeremiah and Jamie."
"But we're going to play against the team with the highest energy in the league and that's Magnolia and that's going to be a huge game for us."
Malonzo finished with a career-high 28 points to lead the way for the reigning champions.
Ginebra is second behind San Miguel Beer, which has a 5-0 win-loss record.
The Scores:
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
QUARTERS: 15-25, 51-50, 79-73, 115-100