THE team separated for over two weeks didn't pose a problem as the Barangay Ginebra Kings reassembled for the PBA Commissioner's Cup restart.
Justin Brownlee and his Ginebra teammates took care of business at the kickoff of their best-of-seven semifinal showdown with the NorthPort Batang Pier, pulling away in the third period enroute to a 115-93 rout at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.
An explosive breakaway in the third even allowed the Ginebra core group a breather, giving way to the Kings reserves to do the mop-up in the blowout - a surprise considering NorthPort is the playoffs top seed.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone won't be carried away by the 22-point win, though, saying it's just one win in a long series.
But it's definitely a big boost for a Ginebra team which hardly got the ideal training during the long break with Cone, Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Japeth Aguilar, Troy Rosario and LA Tenorio all serving duties with Gilas Pilipinas.
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And not one among the Nationals showed a trace of fatigue.
Rosario, Brownlee, Malonzo, Thompson and Aguilar all had a hand in a massive 32-14 exchange Ginebra worked on in the third to open an 88-65 gap going into the final canto.
Enduring a 21-point effort by Kadeem Jack, the Kings took only a five-point lead, 56-51, at the half.
But Rosario, Brownlee and RJ Abarrientos presided over a searing run at the play resumption as the Kings showed they're in rhythm, in target and in sync.
Also exemplary was Ginebra's defensive effort, suddenly stopping NorthPort's perimeter shooting in the second half.
Rosario, a reserve in the national team, fired nine in the third and finished with 16 points and eight rebounds while Brownlee top scored for the team with 19 and Abarrientos added 15.
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Jack, a top candidate for the Best Import award, carried much of the fight for NorthPort with 33 as Arvin Tolentino, a Best Player of the Conference contender, struggled for just eight.
Joshua Munzon was the only other NorthPort player to finish in double figures with 10.
The Kings hit the ground running, enjoying an early twin-digit lead at 33-22.(SB)
The scores:
Ginebra 115 - Brownlee 19, Rosario 16, Abarrientos 15, Malonzo 14, J. Aguilar 11, Cu 9, Holt 7, Mariano 7, Thompson 6, Ahanmisi 5, R. Aguilar 3, Pessumal 2, Pinto 1, Adamos 0.
NorthPort 93 - Jack 33, Munzon 10, Tolentino 8, Navarro 8, Nelle 7, Onwubere 7, Taha 6, Bulanadi 4, Yu 3, Cuntapay 3, Flores 2, Miranda 2.
Quarterscores: 31-22, 56-51, 88-65, 115-93
