Guiao, ROS spoil Malonzo’s Ginebra debut

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Coach Yeng Guiao and the Rain or Shine Elastopainters didn’t let the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel celebrate too early in the ongoing 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup after handing them a 22-point beating, 93-71.

Aside from bouncing back from a disappointing loss against the NLEX Road Warriors, the Elastopainters spoiled Jamie Malonzo’s debut who got shipped to Ginebra in a three-team trade.

Ginebra started the game in their favor as the duo of Malonzo and Japeth Aguilar had an easy time collecting offensive rebounds that rewarded the Gin Kings with tons of second-chance points.

Stanley Pringle was also automatic from the field as Ginebra’s scoring guard provided the much-needed offensive punch when Malonzo and Aguilar got their rest on the bench.

However, Ginebra’s worst nightmare came in the second frame after only managing to score five points in 12 minutes of action.

Justin Brownlee, the Gin Kings’ resident import, also found himself helpless after the Elastopainters held him to just a single field goal made in the quarter.

Rain or Shine then capitalized on Ginebra’s shooting woes and got hot in the most perfect time to crush the Gin Kings 30-5 in the second canto.

After one of the worst shooting quarters was witnessed by the PBA, Ginebra never recovered in the second half and still looked flat with their offensive executions.

Brownlee finally came alive in the third quarter and scored five-straight points but the Rain or Shine guards answered every Ginebra basket that helped them maintain their double-digit lead during the last two quarters.

Ginebra never trimmed Rain or Shine’s lead to single digits despite winning the points battle in the third, 21-17, and the last quarter, 22-21.

Rain or Shine’s import Steve Taylor Jr. tallied his best statistics of the conference so far with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists.

Meanwhile, despite a disappointing first-half shooting, Brownlee still top-scored Ginebra with 20 big points while newly-acquired Malonzo chipped in 14 points.