Barangay Ginebra turned its Game 4 defeat into motivation, bouncing back with a commanding 126-99 victory over NorthPort Batang Pier in Game 5 of their best-of-seven finals series in the 49th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup at the Araneta Coliseum on Friday.
RJ Abarrientos shared how the team used their previous loss as fuel for their resurgence.
“During our huddle before the game, Kuya LA told us that our loss should serve as a boost for this game,” Abarrientos said.
For the second straight conference, Ginebra secured a spot in the finals, wrapping up the semifinals with a 4-1 record.
The Gin Kings broke away in the third quarter, holding Batang Pier to just six points in the first six minutes of the second half, extending their lead to 86-58.
Jamie Malonzo played a key role in the surge, scoring 10 of his 20 points in the third period, including a three-pointer at the 5:52 mark that gave Ginebra its biggest lead of the night at 89-58.
With their ticket to the finals punched, the Gin Kings are set to face the Tropang Giga in the championship series, which begins on Friday.
Head coach Tim Cone welcomed the week-long break, emphasizing its importance for both teams.
“This is a good rest for both teams because we’ll be able to recover and regain our energy,” Cone said.
He also highlighted the difficulty of building a large lead in the PBA.
“Nothing comes easy in this league. It takes a lot of effort. People see a 20-point lead and think it’s simple, but it’s really hard to build that kind of advantage. Blowing out teams in the PBA is never easy,” Cone added.