Gin Kings cruise past Black Knights in campaign opener

The Barangay Ginebra Kings made a statement in their PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup debut, dismantling visiting Macau, 110-93, Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Justin Brownlee led the way with a spectacular all-around performance, tallying 31 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks in his 13th conference in Asia’s premier play-for-pay league. RJ Abarrientos also shined in extended backcourt minutes with Scottie Thompson sidelined due to an elbow injury, contributing 25 points, seven assists, and six rebounds.

Ginebra set the tone early, with Brownlee exploding for 10 points in the opening quarter to give the Gin Kings a 24-21 advantage. Abarrientos then took over in the second, scoring 13 as Ginebra went on a 39-22 run, pushing their lead to a comfortable 63-43 at halftime.

Macau struggled to keep pace, and despite Damian Chongqui’s 28 points, Jenning Leung’s 21, and Phoenix Shackelford’s 18, the Black Knights couldn’t mount a comeback. Import Tony Mitchell managed just 14 points against Ginebra’s towering frontline led by Japeth Aguilar, leaving Macau with an 0-3 overall record.

“The guys came out with a really high sense of energy,” Ginebra coach Tim Cone said. “Last conference, we got off to a slow start and had to fight hard just to reach the semis. We wanted to make sure we hit the ground running this time.”

With their aggressive start and balanced scoring, Ginebra sent a clear message: they are ready to contend from the opening whistle.