JUSTIN Brownlee scored 30 points at the head of a timely fourth-quarter run as Barangay Ginebra defeated Phoenix Super LPG, 109-96, on Sunday in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Brownlee regained his scoring touch after being held to nine points in the first half, scoring 10 in a 12-0 blast that turned an 85-81 deficit into a 93-85 lead that only grew bigger aftee RJ Abarrientos and Scottie Thompson joined the scoring parade.
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That enabled the Gin Kings to coast to their second successive victory after a narrow win over rival Magnolia on Friday - and fourth in six games overall, good for fourth place in the elimination round of the midseason conference.
Ginebra completed a weekend sweep of their games with a victory over a well-rested Phoenix team.
“This is a great win because we were coming off a really tough Magnolia game,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone. “They (Ginebra) really had a short turnaround, and Phoenix has been off for a week so they came out with tremendous energy, they hit shots from all over the place. We were sluggish, we couldn't get our game together, and Justin had nine points in the first half.”
RJ Abarrientos had 28 points, five rebounds, and three assists, and Scottie Thompson had 17 points, six assists, and three steals for the Gins.
Cone also made special mention of the 29-19 third quarter where second stringers such as Ralph Cu, Sonny Estil, and Nards Pinto gave Ginebra a boost while their starters were resting. The Gins reclaimed the lead, 77-75, entering the fourth.
“I thought the key of the game was really when Ralph, Sonny, and Nards came on the floor and really gave us a boost offensively and that allowed our guys to rest. I was able to rest RJ and Scottie for a while, Stephen (Holt) and Troy (Rosario). Being able to do that enabled us to play a much more energetic fourth quarter,” said Cone.
Dickey had 21 points, 21 rebounds, and nine assists in facing Brownlee, his former teammate at Pelita Jaya in Indonesia.
The game was delayed for about five minutes in the first quarter after smoke hovered around the Big Dome due to a fire at the concession stands.
The scores:
Barangay Ginebra 109 – Brownlee 30, Abarrientos 28, Thompson 17, Holt 13, Cu 6, Gray 4, Go 4, Rosario 3, Pinto 2, J. Aguilar 2, Estil 0, Torres 0.
Phoenix 96 – Dickey 21, Tuffin 18, Perkins 17, Nelle 11, Rivero 9, Tio 9, Delos Santos 6, Escandor 5, Santos 0, Gozum 0.
Quarters: 26-24; 48-56; 77-75; 109-96.
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