MANILA: Barangay Ginebra, for all of its height and heft, on Sunday night got the lift from the smallest, lightest man in the lineup.

Eman Monfort made a rare start at the point for the Gin Kings and helped immensely in a 96-87 victory over Purefoods, the defending champion Star Hotshots’ third straight loss in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

The 5-foot-6 playmaker out of Ateneo in the UAAP scored nine points, had seven rebounds, five assists and two steals in rising to the challenge of taking over the injured Jay-Jay Helterbrand and Josh Urbiztondo and starting the game ahead of national team standout LA Tenorio.

“Eman deserves special mention,” Ginebra coach Ato Agustin told reporters later as the Gin Kings rose to a level 3-3 card, rebounding from a 104-103 loss to Talk ‘N Text last week.

Purefoods played a third import in the comebacking Denzel Bowles but still fell for the third straight time just the same, as the continued absence of former two-time MVP James Yap continued to create a huge vacuum in the offense for the Star Hotshots.

Bowles, who was brought over just two days ago after Purefoods decided to ditch the controversial Daniel Orton, scored 31 points but struggled against Ginebra’s towering frontline by collaring just six rebounds.

Orton was sent packing after just three games for saying what he felt about boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, whom he called a joke minutes after the Hotshots were upset by newcomer KIA Motors, 95-84, last week.

Orton, who had an impressive first two games before being held down to just six points and three rebounds in the loss to the Carnival, was also fined P250,000 for his tirade.

Ginebra started out strong, built a 16-point lead early before being dragged into a 78-all tie early in the fourth period.

Monfort was the point guard when the Kings broke away from there, quarterbacking the Ginebra offense with great effect to lead the squad to the win pulling away.

“I have to give it to the guys, they did a good job on playing hard on both ends,” Agustin said. “They were able to execute our game plan all night.”

Import Michael Dunigan scored 12 of his 22 points in the dying minutes.

“We didn’t panic,” Agustin continued in Filipino. “They made their run but we kept our poise and we made our own run as well.”

Meanwhile, Globalport won a second straight game earlier after a 101-78 thumping of newcomer Blackwater.

Terrence Romeo, the sophomore gunslinger out of Far Eastern, scored 25 points, while import Calvin Warner proved his worth yet again by plucking down 30 rebounds as the Batang Pier dealt the Elite a second straight humiliating setback.

Those 30 rebounds by Warner were a franchise best and they also made the bulk of the 74 rebounds that Globalport pulled down for the game, also a team record.

Marcus Douthit had 19 points and 17 rebounds but Blackwater still continued to grope for the form that enabled the Elite to turn the tables on reigning Philippine Cup champion San Miguel Beer two weeks ago.

Warner had 17 points and Ryan Buenafe 15 for the Batang Pier, who are looking to make a Final Four series for the first time in three years in the league.

Stanley Pringle, the runaway hot pick for the Rookie of the Year award, had 11 points for Globalport, which picked up its first winning streak under interim coach Eric Gonzales.