Header Ads Widget

Brownlee, Gin Kings stand out in "Manila Clasico"

Justin Brownlee again showed resiliency as the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings defeated the Magnolia Hotshots, Sunday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. Dennis Jerome Acosta
By Xy-Zha Cabanlong


QUEZON CITY - Two of the most sought-after teams in the league went head-to-head against each other much to the delight of their respective fans, but in the end, the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings prevailing over bitter rivals Magnolia Hotshots; 105-83, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.


Justin Brownlee and the rest of the Gin Kings needed the entire second half to really sail away from the Hotshots, who went off a strong start in the ball game.

"At halftime, even if we are leading by a point, I told the team that if we continue to play the same way as how we played in the first half, we are not going to beat Magnolia," said Coach Tim Cone after the game.

Cone also lauded his team for the win as they needed the quotient to stay in the middle of the standings.

Coach Chito Victolero later voiced out that his team only played their kind of game in the first half and fell on the second half that lead to their second straight loss.

"Pagdating ng second half, medyo nawala yung aming spirit or yung passion namin. Siguro may mga breakdowns din kami on both ends but we played a very good basketball in the first half, nakalimutan lang namin mag basketball in the second half. We'll think about it, watch the tape and learn from it then move forward," Victolero assessed.

Brownlee finished off with 27 points, 9 rebounds and 10 assists.

Romeo Travis donned his Hotshots jersey after spraining his ankle in the game against the San Miguel Beermen, finishing with 17 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block.

Travis' injury forced Magnolia to play all-Filipino against the Blackwater Elite last Wednesday.

"Right now, Travis is okay, may treatment pa rin sya pero okay naman. We will give him a few days rest because our next game is on Sunday, para naman makapahinga sya," Victolero said when asked about the update on Travis' injury.

However, Cone noticed that Travis was still not 100 percent for the game.

"I don't think Romeo Travis was moving very well out there. He's moving okay, he wasn't limping but he wasn't as explosive as he normally is," Cone added.

Follow her on Twitter: @_ichbinxyzha