ANTIPOLO – Justin Brownlee played perhaps the gutsiest game of his PBA career, inspiring Barangay Ginebra to a critical 95-78 win over TNT in Game 4 of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals at the Ynares Center on Friday night.
Brownlee essayed a performance to remember, playing through a dislocated right thumb that put his status in the series in doubt to deliver 23 points with an injured shooting hand to go with 12 rebounds in the series-tying win.
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Jamie Malonzo, Japeth Aguilar and Maverick Ahanmisi followed Brownlee's example and played their best games of the series to help the Gin Kings avoid falling into a 1-3 hole in the blockbuster best-of-seven series.
"He is such a warrior," said Ginebra coach Tim Cone, simply in awe of Brownlee's performance in Game 4.
Game 5 is set on Sunday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Brownlee was efficient early as he hit 6 of his 7 shots from the field in the first half, putting the Gin Kings ahead, 53-49.
Brownlee beat the shot clock buzzer with 5:01 remaining in the fourth – part of an 11-0 run that gave Ginebra an 89-76 lead.
Malonzo also buried a three during that critical stretch to topscore for Ginebra with 24 points while shooting 6 of 8 from threes. Aguilar had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Gin Kings to finally make his presence felt in the series.
Calvin Oftana had 17 points including a buzzer-beating three to end the third that cut TNT’s deficit to 72-66.
Roger Pogoy had 16 points, while Rondae Hollis-Jefferson added 14 points and 12 rebounds, including a short stab to slice the gap to two points, 78-76, in what turned out to be TNT’s last stand.
The scores:
Barangay Ginebra 95 – Malonzo 24, Brownlee 23, J. Aguilar 18, Holt 12, Thompson 9, Ahanmisi 7, Abarrientos 2, Rosario 0, Cu 0, Mariano 0, Pinto 0.
TNT 78 – Oftana 17, Pogoy 16, Hollis-Jefferson 14, Nambatac 13, Erram 9, Williams 9, Aurin 0, Khobuntin 0, Razon 0, Heruela 0, Ebona 0.
Quarters: 31-21; 53-49; 72-66; 95-78.
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