DASMARINAS, Cavite – Barangay Ginebra leaned on the late-game scoring of Justin Brownlee and Stephen Holt and the gutsy plays of Scottie Thompson to bring down San Miguel, 99-94, and regain the lead in their PBA Governors Cup semifinals series.
Brownlee and Holt scored six of the Kings last eight points, while Thompson secured timely rebounds in the stretch run to secure the Game 3 win at the Dasmarinas City Arena on Sunday night and a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven playoff.
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The 36-year-old Brownlee finished with 30 points for Ginebra, including the getaway basket that gave the team a 97-90 lead. The Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player also had nine rebounds, five assists, and five shotblocks in another standout performance.
“Thanks to this guy here (Brownlee), down the stretch were able to win it,” said coach Tim Cone, who sat beside Brownlee, adjudged the Best Player of the Game, during the post-game presser. “Thanks to this guy, and thanks to this guy.”
Holt had an all-around game of 11 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, while Thompson added eight points and eight rebounds, while saving two key possessions for the Kings in the final two minutes of play with his rebounding and intense plays.
“We defended so much better tonight. We played playoff defense. And I thought that was really the key,” Cone noted.
Japeth Aguilar won his match-up with fellow big man June Mar Fajardo as he finished with 22 points and eight rebounds. Maverick Ahanmisi had a double-double of 15 and 11 boards and sank the two free throws with 12 seconds remaining for the marginal score.
Import EJ Anosike led the Beermen with 32 points. He had 14 of his output in the third period when San Miguel made a big run to wipe out an 11-point deficit and take a 67-60 lead.
But Brownlee, Aguilar, and rookie RJ Abarrientos answered for the Kings and regained the upperhand, 76-72, heading to the final quarter.
“We have some uncertain moments in the third quarter, but thanks to this guy (Brownlee), we were able to recover,” said Cone.
CJ Perez had 13 for San Miguel, while Fajardo registered his lowest output of the series with 12 and 14 rebounds.
Marcio Lassiter also had 12 and converted on a four-point shot with 13 seconds left as the Beermen threatened for the last time at 97-94.
The scores:
Ginebra (99) - Brownlee 30, J.Aguilar 22, Ahanmisi 15, Holt 11, Abarrientos 8, Thompson 8, Cu 5, Adamos 0, Devance 0.
San Miguel (94) - Anosike 32, Perez 13, Fajardo 12, Lassiter 12, Cruz 9, Romeo 8, Trollano 3, Ross 3, Tauatuaa 2, Rosales 0.
Quarterscores: 25-20; 54-45; 76-72; 99-94.
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