JUSTIN Brownlee delivered on offense and defense in the most crucial moments as Barangay Ginebra beat TNT, 85-73, for its first win in the PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup Finals played on All Saints Day at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Brownlee finally knocked down his first three of the finals series at the 6:39-mark of the fourth quarter, sparking the decisive finishing kick where the import also produced crucial stops to slice the deficit to 2-1 in their best-of-seven title showdown.
READ Surprise starter LA Tenorio sparks strong first half for Ginebra in Game 3
Brownlee also stripped the ball from Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and blocked a three-point attempt by Calvin Oftana during that 17-6 run that turned a 68-67 lead into an 12-point victory, essentially keeping Ginebra in contention instead of trailing 0-3.
The Ginebra reinforcement and Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks, and now looks forward to Game Four to be played on Sunday at the Big Dome.
Maverick Ahanmisi had 16 points and eight rebounds, while Scottie Thompson added 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists for the Gin Kings in a game where LA Tenorio started and Joe Devance saw action for the first time in the PBA Finals after suffering a knee injury in the San Miguel semifinal series.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson once again played 48 minutes and delivered 24 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists, four steals, and one block for TNT in the Game Three defeat.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone was glad to finally claim a victory in the series, admitting that they were flat after finishing an intense semifinal series against San Miguel.
“We certainly played a lot better and played better defense,” said Cone. “I think coming from the San Miguel series, we were just a little worn out and not as focused as we should be. The two games kinda woke us up.
"Hopefully, this wakes us up and get us going for this series.”
Tenorio was an immediate spark for the Gins in his starting role, and finished Game Three with nine points on 4-for-6 shooting from the field.
Devance played 15 minutes, and had two points and two assists, but more importantly, gave Japeth Aguilar a few stretches to rest.
Except for the final minutes, Game Three was close with Ginebra mostly ahead. The last TNT lead was at 57-56 late in the third, but Brownlee had two consecutive lay-ups that got Ginebra back in the driver’s seat, 62-59, at the end of the fourth.
The scores:
Barangay Ginebra 85 – Brownlee 18, Ahanmisi 16, Thompson 15, J. Aguilar 10, Holt 10, Tenorio 9, Cu 3, Abarrientos 2, Devance 2.
TNT 73 – Hollis-Jefferson 24, Erram 12, Castro 10, Pogoy 10, Oftana 9, Khobuntin 4, Nambatac 2, Williams 2, Aurin 0.
Quarters: 20-19; 42-39; 62-59; 85-73.
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