JUSTIN Brownlee saved Barangay Ginebra from a monumental collapse with clutch baskets in the final seconds against TNT, 71-70, in a classic Game Two on Sunday in the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup Finals at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Brownlee made an acrobatic reverse lay-up then made two free throws with 46.6 seconds remaining to give Ginebra the lead, 71-70, in a low-scoring game where the Gin Kings blew a 15-point lead.
READ Poy Erram in yet another outburst in Game Two vs Ginebra
Brownlee’s late heroics saved the day after TNT made a huge comeback from scoring a PBA Finals-low 19 points in the first half, enabling Ginebra to tie the best-of-seven series at 1-1 heading to Game 3 on Wednesday at the Philsports Arena.
Ginebra nearly bungled the victory, however, when Scottie Thompson threw an errant pass straight to Calvin Oftana, giving TNT another chance to steal the win in the endgame.
But the Gin Kings held their ground when Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was double-teamed in the final possession, failing to take a clear shot at the basket.
Brownlee finished with 35 points in another heroic performance that has become a hallmark of a long, decorated PBA career.
Thompson finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists, his all-around effort nearly going for naught because of his late turnover.
“These guys just showed true grit all the way through the game,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone. “And we knew that if we’re going to have a chance in the series, we’re going to have to show that character and that true grit, just really reach deep to make two stops down the stretch.
"Those were really incredible stops. And that’s just the way we’re going to have to play to have a chance in this series.”
LOOK: Wall damaged in TNT dugout after Game 2 loss to Ginebra
Hollis-Jefferson had 25 points and 15 rebounds, but shot just 6-of -23 from the field. He still found a way to score 18 in the second half to keep TNT within striking distance after trailing by as many as 15 points.
The scores:
Barangay Ginebra 71 – Brownlee 35, Thompson 16, J. Aguilar 8, Holt 7, Rosario 2, Ahanmisi 2, Abarrientos 1, Malonzo 0, Cu 0.
TNT 70 – Hollis-Jefferson 25, Nambatac 14, Pogoy 11, Erram 6, Oftana 5, Khobuntin 4, Williams 2, Razon 2, Aurin 1, Heruela 0.
Quarters: 21-15; 32-19; 54-45; 71-70.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
