Barangay Ginebra took control of the game early and trounced the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters,102-89, to start their the PBA Commissioner's Cup best-of-five semifinal showdown on a bright note at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday evening.
Justine Brownlee fired 35 points and hauled down 15 rebounds for the Gin Kings, who welcomed the return of Greg Slaughter and Joe Devance from injury.
Brownlee scored one of three triples in the first period and his effort in the last 9:32 sent the Gin Kings out of a 5-all deadlock and into a 13-5 lead.
Jeff Chan struck with 21 points for the Gin Kings, who took a 13-point edge, 18-5 off Brownlee's drive.
Slaughter celebrated his return with a jump shot in the last 1:23, and the Gin Kings went on to enjoy a 28-13 spread.
The Painters never recovered from there.