MANILA: Nate Brumfield exploded for 32 points to power the Barangay Ginebra Kings to 115-98 demolition of the Meralco Bolts Friday night as the import-laced PBA Commissioner's Cup blasted off at the jampacked Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena in Laoag City. Brumfield finished with a near triple double as he also had 11 rebounds and eight assists. The former Oklahoma Baptist was 10-of-18 from the field and a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line. Mark Caguioa, Willie Miller, Ronald Tubid and Rudy Hatfield also starred for the Kings who pulled away early in the game and never relaxed their grip on the struggling Bolts. Caguioa scored 20 points, Miller had 16 while Tubid chipped in 15. Hatfield scored only six points but grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. Tony Dandridge led Meralco with 30 points while Asi Taulava recorded a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds. Former Rain or Shine star Sol Mercado scored 19 points but shot just 7-of-20 in his first game for the Bolts. Meralco's top gunner Mark Cardona had a dismal output of six points on 3-of-14 shooting. The Kings played minus injured guard Jayjay Helterbrand. But Helterbrand's absence was hardly missed as the Kings got off to a sizzling start. Leading 34-30 midway in the second quarter, the Kings unleashed a 19-6 run with Brumfield scoring nine straight points and Miller and Caguioa each knocking in a trey. Ginebra finished the first half ahead by 17 points, 59-42. The Kings stayed hot, leading by as many as 24 points, 72-48, in the third quarter. Practically toying with the Bolts, the Kings began the fourth quarter with a 12-2 tear to erect a 99-76 bulge. Ginebra coach Jong Uichico was exuberant after the game, noting that Brumfield appeared to have adjusted quickly to the Kings' style.
