Barangay Ginebra San Miguel opened its PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinal campaign on a sour note after surrendering a double-digit fourth-quarter lead in a stunning 115-111 defeat to Rain or Shine in Game 1 on Wednesday, May 20, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Despite appearing to be in full control midway through the final period, Ginebra faltered down the stretch as Rain or Shine unleashed a decisive late-game rally anchored on the explosive performances of import Jaylen Johnson and forward Jhonard Clarito. Johnson erupted for 40 points while Clarito added 25 markers, powering the Elasto Painters to a crucial opening-game victory in the best-of-seven semifinal series.
Adrian Nocum and Mike Malonzo also delivered timely contributions for Rain or Shine, chipping in 16 and 12 points, respectively, as the squad repeatedly punished Ginebra in transition and capitalized on costly turnovers in the closing minutes.
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What made the loss even more frustrating for the Gin Kings was the fact that they squandered a 10-point advantage in the fourth quarter despite another vintage performance from resident import Justin Brownlee. The longtime Ginebra reinforcement once again carried the offensive load, finishing with 32 points, five rebounds, and five assists, but his efforts ultimately went for naught as Rain or Shine executed better in crunch time.
Following the heartbreaking defeat, Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone did not mince words when assessing his team’s performance, particularly their lack of composure and discipline during the pivotal final stretch.
“They hit the bigger shots and we played their game tonight,” Cone said during the postgame press conference.
“They hit the bigger shots.”
Coach Tim Cone on Ginebra’s 115-111 defeat at the hands of Rain or Shine last night. in G1 of their semifinals series.
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The veteran tactician lamented how Ginebra allowed Rain or Shine to dictate the tempo, pointing out that the Gin Kings fell into the trap of engaging in a fast-paced contest that favored their opponents.
Cone stressed that unless his team regains its focus and discipline, their hopes of advancing to the finals could quickly slip away.
“If we are going to continue to be like that, we are not going to win many games in this series. We have got to be tougher, we have got to be better, we have got to be more disciplined. They hit the bigger shots and made the bigger plays down the stretch.
“The bottom line is we gave up way too many games. We made them play their running game and we made too many turnovers. We have got to be better locked in next time,” he added.
The loss places immediate pressure on Ginebra heading into Game 2 as they now face the challenge of avoiding a dangerous 0-2 hole in the series. Known for their resilience under Cone, the Gin Kings will need to make significant adjustments defensively and take better care of the basketball if they hope to slow down Rain or Shine’s high-octane offense.
Meanwhile, the Elasto Painters gained a major confidence boost after stealing the series opener and proving they can match up against one of the league’s most decorated franchises. Their aggressive pace, balanced scoring, and ability to capitalize on transition opportunities exposed several defensive lapses on Ginebra’s end.
All eyes will now turn to Game 2 on Friday, May 22, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, where Barangay Ginebra will attempt to regroup and even the series before Rain or Shine gains full momentum in the semifinals showdown.
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