MANILA, Philippines – How the tables have turned. 

After a 1-4 start, Barangay Ginebra continued its hot streak as it notched its 4th straight win by giving the reeling Alaska a 105-86 beating in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, June 24. 

The Gin Kings improved to 5-5 to gain a share of 6th place with the GlobalPort Batang Pier and handed the Aces their second straight loss. 

Justin Brownlee, playing less than 30 minutes, filled up the stats sheet with 28 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists in a game that saw Ginebra take control from the get-go with a 14-point lead after the maiden period.

Apparently, the Gin Kings were just getting started as they continued to pounce on the Aces in the middle quarters, extending their lead to as large as 33 points, 85-52, off an LA Tenorio freebie with 3 minutes left in the 3rd frame. 

Alaska – which rode on a 7-game winning streak for a stretch this conference – failed to recover from the huge deficit in the payoff period despite employing their patented full-court press. 

“We’re on a roll, and I’m not sure what we’re doing to get us in a roll. But it just seems that everything is coming together for us right now,” marvelled Ginebra head coach Tim Cone. 

“So right now, we’re in a good roll and we’ll go with it as long as we can. I wish we had some magic food that we’re eating or something, and we’ll just keep feeding them.”

Tenorio tallied 12 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals and 3 assists while Japeth Aguilar and Sol Mercado conjoined for 20 points and 12 rebounds as the Gin Kings moved within a win from a quarterfinals slot.

Vic Manuel kept his streak of scoring at least 20 points going to 9 games after submitting 20 points and 4 rebounds for the Aces, but he lacked help from his teammates with import Antonio Campbell limited to 6 points and 8 rebounds. 

Jake Pascual was the only other Alaska player in double figures with 11 points and 6 rebounds. 

The Scores:

Ginebra (105): Brownlee 28, Tenorio 12, Aguilar J. 10, Mercado 10, Devance 7, Slaughter 7, Thompson 6, Caperal 6, Ferrer 6, Mariano 5, Chan 4, Aguilar R. 3, Cruz 1, Manuel 0, Caguioa 0.

Alaska (86): Manuel 20, Pascual J. 11, Pascual R. 7, Galliguez 7, Campbell 6, Banchero 6, Potts 6, Casio 5, Baclao 4, Enciso 4, Racal 3, Exciminiano 2, Magat 1, Thoss 0

Quarter scores: 30-16; 63-38; 90-58; 105-86

– Rappler.com