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    Ginebra nips SMB in Game 5 thriller, moves on cusp of title

    Brownlee, Thompson lead Ginebra to Game Five victory and on cusp of PBA title
    Aug 5, 2018
    PHOTO: Jerome Ascano

    BARANGAY Ginebra turned to Scottie Thompson and Justin Brownlee to put away an 87-83 victory over San Miguel that moved the Kings on the cusp of the 2018 PBA Commissioner's Cup championship on Sunday night.

    Thompson finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds, capping his game-long brilliance with six points that turned turned the tide in Ginebra's favor in the closest and definitely most exciting game of the best-of-seven series.

    The win, fashioned out before a roaring capacity crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, gave Ginebra a 3-2 lead and a chance to wrap up the series in Game Six on Wednesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

    The Kings actually closed the game with a 9-0 run after trailing by as many as 12 points in a game that was a big departure from the first four games of this series, none of which were close.

    “I guess everybody got what they wanted, a close game,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone, who was suffering from food poisoning in the match. “Couldn’t get any closer than that.”

    “We got that crucial Game Five, but it’s like we have to make sure we don’t win the battle and lose the war. The war is still out there,” Cone said.

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      Thompson was quick to redeem himself after being posterized in a June Mar Fajardo dunk that gave the Beermen an 83-78 lead.

      The sophomore guard hit two free throws to pull Ginebra within 82-83 and, after two missed Fajardo free throws, turned a Brownlee assist into a banked shot that gave the Gin Kings the lead, 84-83.

      After Renaldo Balkman's shot inside the lane was smothered by a Ginebra double-team, Thompson completed a fastbreak to make it 86-83.

      Brownlee had 18 points, nine rebounds, and four assists but none bigger than the one he dished to Thompson that handed Barangay Ginebra the lead.

      The loss spoiled the herculean effort of Renaldo Balkman, who had 34 points, 20 rebounds, and two blocks for the Beermen. June Mar Fajardo had 23 points and 11 rebounds including a left-handed dunk that gave San Miguel an 83-78 lead.

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      The Beermen, however, didn’t score again after that.

      The scores:

      Ginebra 87 – Thompson 20, Brownlee 18, Tenorio 15, Slaughter 13, Devance 8, Aguilar 8, Chan 15, Mercado 0, Cruz 0, Ferrer 0.

      San Miguel 83 – Balkman 34, Fajardo 23, Lassiter 13, Cabagnot 5, Ross 3, Standhardinger 3, Santos 2, Nabong 0.

      Quarters: 24-26; 40-40; 66-66; 87-83.

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      PHOTO: Jerome Ascano
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